Style Magazine, October 2016 by Akers Media Group

October

2016

Shedding light on the dark issues of Lake and Sumter counties, including homelessness, hunger, human trafficking, and teen alcoholism. Local homeless man, Michael Alan Jeffries (pictured), knows all too well how quickly you can go from living the dream to living on the streets.

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OCTOBER 2016 // VOLUME 12 NUMBER 12

38 // THE DARK SIDE OF LIFE Life in Lake and Sumter counties is fulfilling and busy for most residents, and it makes for great stories. But there are also stories in the peripheral that are often ignored or overlooked—homelessness, human trafficking, hunger, and teen alcoholism. STORIES: LEIGH NEELY+THERESA CAMPBELL+DEBBI KIDDY

LONG DAYS AND SCARY NIGHTS They’re the shadows in the woods, the aimless walker on the streets, or the faceless person with a sign on the side of the road. Being homeless isn’t just about not having a home.

MODERN SLAVERY Florida ranks third in the country as a place where modern slavery exists. A variety of organizations and industries are working together to create awareness and make change.

A WORLD BURDENED WITH HUNGER Soup kitchens were once associated with The Great Depression, but now there’s hunger in every town.

THE MAGIC KISS OF ALCOHOL Teens and alcohol don’t mix yet statistics show many teenagers are alcoholics. Some began drinking as young as 12 years old.

ON THE COVERS October

2016

October

2016

VILLAGE EDITION

Shedding light on the dark issues of Lake and Sumter counties, including homelessness, hunger, human trafficking, and teen alcoholism.

ce, racti s ular r p lage pop scula Vil ves. The rdiova of the ig mo ca eart ing b H mak INSIDE is AD MORE RE

Local homeless man, Michael Alan Jeffries (pictured), knows all too well how quickly you can go from living the dream to living on the streets.

LAKE&SUMTER EDITION

VILLAGE EDITION

DIRECTION: JAMIE EZRA MARK PHOTOGRAPHY: FRED LOPEZ PHOTOSHOP: JOSH CLARK

DIRECTION: JAMIE EZRA MARK PHOTOSHOP: JOSH CLARK

October 20 16

en ents 98

Departments 22 PERSON OF INTEREST Sheriff Gary Borders reflects on his career in law enforcement as he faces retirement in January.

15 FROM THE PUBLISHER

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

FIRST THINGS FIRST 18 #TRENDING Fall in Mount Dora means the Craft Fair and the famous Bicycle Festival brings lots of residents and visitors to town. A new sheriff’s office building is going up on Powell Road and Tavares residents will notice improvements being done near the city park for improved water treatment. Anglers Away! Six tournaments will be filmed in Leesburg for the Fishing League Worldwide, and the spooks you see at Halloween may be a little politico. STORIES: JAMES COMBS+LEIGH NEELY+THERESA CAMPBELL+DEBBI KIDDY

24 OUTSTANDING STUDENT Natorie Williams found self-confidence and friendship at the LakeSumter Boys and Girls Club. She was recently named Youth of the Year. STORY: DEBBI KIDDY

26 THIS ‘N THAT Ack! Why are there so many colors of the Pringles’ containers? It could make you a grumpy old man. STORY: FRED HILTON

67 ON THE SCENE Get the scoop on the Amazing Race for Charity, Family Fun and Fitness Day at LRMC Urgent Care was good for them. The winners of the Miss Leesburg Scholarship Scramble are suited to a tee, and Cornerstone Hospice has its own Salute to Veterans. 68 THE TO-DO LIST From Lady Lake’s Art in the Park to “Seussical, the

20 12

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Musical,” there’s plenty to do in the area. Bike, Blues & BBQ along with Leesburg's Scarecrow Build-Off mean lots of fun, but you don’t want to miss Rocktoberfest. Get the scoop on upcoming events this month! 72 LOCAL TALENT They both began working in community theater at six years old, and Kirk Simpson and Tatum Donovan are now starring in exciting shows at the Young People’s Theater. STORY: DEBBI KIDDY

80 HI, SOCIETY! Pick out your friends who were at the Pig-on-the-Pond Carnival in Clermont. Were your friends at the Miss Leesburg Golf Scramble? Maybe they crawled through the mud at the Amazing Race for Charity!

89 EATS! 92 IN THE KITCHEN It’s as corny as October in Zellwood! The famous corn is coming in, and here are recipes shared by Long & Scott Farm, and if you don’t want to cook,

you can a-maze yourself among the corn stalks. STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

96 SALUTÉ Malbecs is the dark wine, but they don’t all taste the same. Whether your preference is for the dark wines of France or their spicier brothers from Argentina, it’s a treat for wine connoisseurs. STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS

98 FORK ON THE ROAD Take a little trip to Cuba with the delights of Cuba Pichy and enjoy the view over the umbrella in your margarita at The Lost Parrot, or maybe you’d rather dig into homemade chips and salsa at Eduardo’s Lokos Tacos. STORIES: LEIGH NEELY+THERESA CAMPBELL+DEBBI KIDDY

120 FINAL THOUGHT How often do you hear someone remark about this being a small world? Connections are formed wherever you go, and pretty soon there’s a network of familiar acquaintances. STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS

120 .com

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@YOUR SERVICE October

ED BY SPONSOR

2016

VILLAGE EDIT ION October

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

2016

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NEW OVE RTIM E AND R CLASSIF ICATION CHA WOR KER IC INTO NTO EFFEC ECT DECEMBNGE S GO ER 1ST

Including survivor, Barbara Augustine (pictured), whose life took a different asthma, direction after severe back pain, and breast cancer.

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COMMIS SSI SIONER ION N ER R’S CORNER CO BUSINE SS BRIEFS BR R IEF FS STATE OF THE TH HE E ECONOM CO MONEY MATTER ONOMY FOR LOCAL ATTE AT CITIES ERS S AFFE AFFECTI NG MADE ADE DE IN LAKE SMALL BUSINE LAKE SS

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The latest editions of Lake and Sumter Style, Villages Style, Healthy Living, Lake Business Magazine and Welcome to Lake County

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Every morning I come into work, I see the same homeless man standing outside Walgreens with a sign that says, “Homeless, will work for food.” He is walking back and forth beside the line of cars, as the traffic light turns red, hoping to grab someone’s attention. Then as I get closer to work, I see a woman sleeping on a bench at veteran’s park, her belongings bundled up underneath her head and used for a pillow. When I leave the office for lunch, I typically see the same young man sitting on a bench in front of my office, and each day he politely says “hello” to me as I leave and then greets me when I return. As I am driving around town taking care of my errands, I see the man we’ve all come to know as Willard, who is scouring the area for cans or recyclables so he can collect them and turn them into a nearby recycling center for cash. Each and every day I pass by these people as I am out and about, doing my daily duties, coming to and from work, which is ironically the place I go to put together stories for this magazine. It’s a publication that represents all that is great about our community. It’s my job to highlight the wonderful people, places, and events that make this community a great place to live. After many years of doing the same old routine, it finally hit me. There is a dark side to our community. A hidden side right before our eyes and it is begging to be seen. Unfortunately, I had been doing nothing at all to help. I ignored it. As guilt settled in, I realized I am an accomplice to these ongoing travesties. Here I am, owner and publisher of the area’s most widely read magazine, and I have done nothing to bring awareness to issues such as homelessness, hunger, teen alcoholism, and have written very little about the human trafficking epidemic. All of which are happening right here in this community. So now, it is time. It is time to look into the side of Lake and Sumter counties that have been in the shadows far too long. It is time to bring awareness to these uncomfortable issues and look into the reality of our society. Most of us have a home, we have food readily available to us,, and we have people p p around us who love us and look after us. But what about those se who are not as fortunate? Do we cast them out, and leave them to fight the struggle truggle on their own? I certainly hope not. My hope is that through these very real stories being shared d with you this month, we, as a community, will find a way to make living ng in our community truly wonderful for everyone—not just for some of us, but for all of us. Until next month,,

WINNER OF

LAKE EUSTIS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SUMTER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

100+ AWARDS

AMERICAN ADVERTISING ASSOCIATION FOR EXCELLENCE

Lake & Sumter Style, October 2016. Published monthly by Akers Media, 108 South Fifth Street, Leesburg, Florida 34748. All editorial contents copyright 2016 by Akers Media. All rights reserved. Lake & Sumter Style is a registered trademark of Akers Media. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. For back issues or billing information, call 352.787.4112. Return postage must accompany all unsolicited manuscripts and artwork if they are to be returned. Manuscripts are welcomed, but no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. “Paid Promotional Feature” and “Special Promotional Feature” denotes a paid advertising feature. Publisher is not responsible for claims or contents of advertisements. The ideas and opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of Akers Media.

Kendra Akers

October Oct O c ober obe b r 20 16

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First Things

f1rst 18

#TRENDING PERSON OF INTEREST OUTSTANDING STUDENT THIS ‘N’ THAT

October 20 0 16

22 24 26

First things first // #trending Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR Oh, October! Just breathing the cool, crisp fall air makes you want to get outdoors and enjoy the many fairs and festivals around Lake County. Historic Downtown Mount Dora will host its fun and famous 32nd annual Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 22-23. With 350 of the best crafters in the country, this nationally-ranked juried event draws more than 250,000 festival enthusiasts each year. This event has everything from sculptures to woodworking, ceramics to paintings and rare gifts (artist-made jewelry) for early-bird Christmas shoppers. If the autumn air, laden with smells of Kettle Korn, corn dogs, and waffle cakes whets your appetite for festival food, the many food vendors will be on hand to make your wish a reality. You may find the streets are a bit crowded, so there’s always time to visit the eclectic shops that make downtown Mount Dora so special. To learn more, go to visitmountdora.com or call 352.217.8390.

MORE TO COME There’s a new Sumter County public safety building going up on Powell Road near the Pinellas Plaza library and government center. This building will be used as the sheriff’s office northern headquarters, the emergency operations center, ambulance services and the dispatch and emergency call center as well as fire and emergency services offices. The plan was approved during the July meeting of the Sumter County commissioners.

I Like to Ride My Bicycle Remember the exuberance and freedom you felt the first time you pushed off on a solo bicycle ride? More than 1,000 cyclists will attend as Mount Dora hosts the 42nd annual Bicycle Festival Oct. 7-9. It is the oldest and largest bicycling event in the state. Bicycling is becoming more and more popular, it’s estimated there are almost 100,000 riders in the United States (data.gov). Lake County is famous for its numerous and varied biking trails, rated from easy to moderate to hard. Whether you choose the easy 11mile Lake Gracie route with amazing views of Crooked Lake, or the more challenging 103-mile route deemed the

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“Countryside Century,” which winds through the Ocala National Forest by De Leon Springs to the banks of the St. Johns River, you’re bound to rekindle exhilarating childhood memories—and find some new ones along the trail.

COOL, CLEAR WATER

Tavares residents and businesses now know the end is in sight. Work began just after Labor Day on the site of a stormwater treatment area. City utility customers are paying $2.4 million of a project costing $5.3 million thanks to grants from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Lake County Water Authority. Though work will continue for about a year, ending at Wooton Park, enhancing the area, according to John Drury, city administrator. This new work replaces the old pipe systems and uses the 8-acre park to treat water before it is discharged into the lake.

JOSH TAKES ON: AN ADMITTEDLY ASKEW POINT OF VIEW FROM THE MIND OF ILLUSTRATOR JOSH CLARK

October 20 16

First things first // #trending Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events

JAMES MES ES CO COMBS’ COMBS O 1 // ANGRY BECAUSE his mother refused to pick him up at a local hospital, a 36-yearold Umatilla man fought with police and ended up in the Lake County Jail. Now, he’ll be able to call his mother from his “cell.”

2 // A 30-YEAR-OLD LAKE COUNTY POSTAL worker was charged with possession of child pornography after Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents raided his home. Because of his bad decision, he’ll be the one experiencing “special deliveries” in prison. 3 // WHILE ARGUING how to shut off a car alarm in a Tavares parking garage, a Clermont couple drew the attention of police and landed in jail after a significant amount of marijuana was found in their vehicle. The lesson learned here? When you’re out in public, try not to stir the pot.

4 // ALTHOUGH DOC IS A DOG with only three working legs, a Lake County woman is teaching him to be a therapy dog so he can inspire special-needs kids and disabled veterans. That is paws-itively awesome! 5 // AN UNDERCOVER prostitution operation in Polk County landed 128 suspects in jail—three of which are Lake County residents. Prostitution is a whore-able occupation. 6 // LAKE COUNTY middle school students showed remarkable improvement on state assessments in mathematics. In fact, they improved nine percentage points in Algebra I and eight points in Algebra 2. All the studying and hard work is starting to add up!

ANGLERS READY FOR BIG CATCHES IN LAKE Professional Bass Angler Scott Canterbury of Springville, Alabama, has won more than $1 million as a fishing pro, and he will be in Lake County with other anglers in March vying for a tournament win. The Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) has revealed that one of its six broadcast tournaments will be filmed March 9-12 in Leesburg during the 2017 Walmart FLW Tour, on NBC Sports Network, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network. Lake County Economic Development and Tourism Manager Adam Sumner, who’s also an avid angler, says the tour stop in Leesburg will allow Lake County “to show the world” just how great fishing is on the Harris Chain of Lakes. Lake County has already reeled attention for being home to seven of the top 11 lakes in the state for quantity and size of bass fish. Adam says the FLW will be involved in hosting community events during tournament week, including an expo on Ski Beach at Venetian Gardens. Additional tournament details closer to the event will be available at FLWFishing.com. Those interested in learning more about bass fishing in Lake County can visit lakebigbass.com.

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TRICK -ORTREAT Batman, Superman, Star Wars and Marvel’s Captain America’s characters may knock on your door this Halloween, along with youngsters dressed in traditional favorites of witches, vampires, and sweet Disney princesses. And don’t be surprised if some politically minded trickor-treaters are ready to make you laugh or twinge by wearing a Donald Trumpstyle wig or Hillary Clinton mask—both new items for Halloween 2016.

RANDY FINK, MD, FACOG

PAMELA COOK, MSN, NP

First things first // person of interest

MY RETIREMENT PLANS: I am going to spend more time with family and I will continue to be involved in the community that I love so much. YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT: I have been working in law enforcement for 36 years. I started in Osceola County July 1, 1980. I WAS MOTIVATED TO GO INTO THIS FIELD: Growing up, I always had an interest in law enforcement. I have an uncle in Kentucky who was a captain of the local police department where I grew up. I always enjoyed listening to his stories about different things he did throughout his career. I always knew this was what I wanted to do. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: Obviously becoming the sheriff of Lake County has been my greatest achievement. For the citizens of this great county to give me the opportunity to serve as their sheriff has been a humbling experience. MY HERO: Several people have been influential in my life, but my heroes are the men and women who go out and put their lives on the line every day to protect our

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citizens. Aside from protecting us on a daily basis, I have seen deputies do incredible things, like going to the store to buy a birthday cake for a little boy that was just put into foster care, or the deputy that bought a child a new bike after his was stolen, or when a deputy went to the ATM and withdrew $20 to give to a little girl because someone had stolen her money. These are just a few examples of the things that deputies do that no one ever hears about. They are heroes all the time in my eyes. BEST ADVICE I’VE BEEN GIVEN: I was always taught to never forget where you came from. It’s important as you progress through the ranks that you don’t forget the people who helped you get there. PET PEEVE: That would probably be answered best by my staff. Most of my staff would tell you that I don’t like for the deputies in uniform to have their sunglasses on top of their head, especially when they are inside. GUILTY FOOD PLEASURE: Chocolate FAVORITE HOBBIES: I will have to let you know what those are about six months after I retire. ADVICE TO MY SUCCESSOR: I would tell my successor to always remember that as honorable as it is to serve as the sheriff, you should never forget that the office belongs to the people and that we are public servants.

.com

TH E LAW OF TH E

LAN D

GARY BORDERS Retiring Lake County Sheriff

PHOTO: PHO HO OTTO TO: O:: FRE O FFRED FR ED LOPEZ LOOPE PPEEZ

WHAT I HAVE ENJOYED MOST AS LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF: Being the sheriff has given me the opportunity to go throughout Lake County and meet some really great people. It’s been an honor to serve this community and work alongside the dedicated men and women at the sheriff’s office.

First things first // outstanding student

Natorie Williams was recognized by Congressman Daniel Webster as Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter Counties Youth of the Year. WHEN DID YOU FIRST VISIT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB? In the summer after fifth grade, my mom wanted my sister and me to go. WHY DO YOU KEEP COMING BACK? The support of the staff. In the sixth grade, I was bullied physically, mentally, and emotionally by a girl who lived in the same neighborhood, rode my bus, and was in some of my classes in school. At the club I got very quiet and seemed depressed. One of the staff members, Miss Charlene, pulled me aside. She said, “Tell your bully tomorrow what you have to say, so this won’t continue. Once you stand up and tell her what’s on your mind, she will be scared of you, because now you will not be affected by her bullying.” I took her advice the very next day and the bullying stopped. I was amazed that they cared, stuck by my side the whole time and never left. HOW HAS THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB IMPACTED YOUR LIFE? It has helped me find my own voice, being able to say what I need to say when I need to say it. It has helped me with my grades … not being scared to take AP (Advanced Placement) classes, with college planning, job experiences, so I can be prepared for what I will be facing when I leave. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB NOW? I am a junior staff member, and I enjoy helping other kids the way I was helped.

PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ

AGE 17/ EUSTIS HIGH SCHOOL

NATORIE “TORIE” WILLIAMS 24

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WHAT ARE YOUR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES? I serve as the vice president of the Future Business Leaders of America, a member of the Glee Club, the Beta Club, and the Best Buddies Club. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? I plan to attend Lake-Sumter State College, and then on to either FAMU or UCF to pursue a degree in business management. I want to complete my MBA in business and go into the fashion industry in New York. WHY FASHION? One day I noticed my mother’s Betsy Johnson purse. It was purple and black and had a zebra print, and it said Betsyville on it. I thought, “What’s that?” I looked it up and all of a sudden a whole new world opened up for me. She uses patterns and polka dots and I was so shocked. I said, “I want to do that!”

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First things first // This ‘n’ that

WARNING: CRAZY MAN ON AISLE 6 STORY: FRED HILTON

Pringles put me over the top. It began as a pretty normal day. I was ambling down aisle 6 in the grocery store, headed to pick up a can of Pringles. Since they came out, Pringles have been among my all-time favorites. You can stack a whole bunch of them, and it looks like you’re not eating much, but you’re gobbling down more chips than a big bowlful of the regular kind. All I wanted was my faithful old red Pringles can. But there, staring at me from the shelves, were at least 25 different kinds of Pringles. In addition to my friend the red can, there were green, orange, blue, brown, and one in a goofy color with a strange name I can’t remember. There were Pringles with cheddar cheese, salt and vinegar, sour cream and cheese, tortillas, and other weird things. I lost it and began muttering, “Why, in the name of all that’s holy, do we need 25 kinds of Pringles? What’s wrong with red-can Pringles? Have you no sense of decency?” Several shoppers rushed to the store manager and frantically reported “a crazy old man on aisle 6 yelling at the Pringles cans.” It became abundantly clear to me. What I long dreaded was finally true. I was officially a curmudgeon—a grumpy old man. For years, I resisted the urge to give in to my inner grumpiness. However, there were obvious signs long ago of early onset curmedgeonliness. The biggest giveaway was that I liked Andy Rooney. You remember Andy, the rumpled little man with the bushy eyebrows who appeared at the end of CBS’s “60 Minutes” every Sunday night. Each week, good old Andy whined and complained about something he thought was particularly bubble-headed or pretentious. Many people believed Andy was a grumpy old buffoon. Creepy eyebrows or not, Andy was my hero and I cheered him on each week. The best thing about publically admitting my curmedgeonliness is I no longer have to suffer fools gladly. I can criticize, gripe, and whine to my heart’s content, and people can’t legally get mad at me. It’s discriminatory. Curmudgeons have their rights clearly spelled out the in U.S. Constitution. The section on Curmudgeons Rights

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was placed there by our Founding Curmudgeon, Benjamin Franklin. At least that’s what it says in the curmudgeons’ newsletter. If it’s in the curmudgeons’ newsletter, it must be true. Curmudgeons can’t lie. They can grumble and grouse, but they can’t lie. Again, according to the newsletter. One of the great things about being a curmudgeon is discarding your verbal sensor. For years, that sensor kept you from blurting what you really thought when you saw something stupid. Now you disregard all efforts to be tactful and say exactly what you think. People won’t get mad at you. They’ll simply write it off as a grumpy-old-man babbling. You can safely say things that would have earned you a punch in the mouth years ago. For example, if you’re watching people oohing and aahing over some fat little baby, you don’t have to join the gushiness. You can be honest and mutter “Geez, that kid looks like Winston Churchill on steroids.” Sitting in front of the TV is a great place to satisfy these curmudgeonly instincts. When one of those silly ads comes on and says, “These are real people, not actors,” you can go into a rant. If actors aren’t real people, what are they? Aliens? Androids? Waxed figures? Holograms? An election year is a wonderful time to be a curmudgeon. There’s no limit to the moronic things shrilly blared by a huge variety of dim-witted candidates. You can happily grumble about all of them. My trip to the grocery store the other day went pretty well after I left the Pringles section. I did, however, go into a brief rant in the cereal aisle when I saw the various Cheerios and Corn Flakes. They said I could come back to the grocery store. I just can’t go to aisle 6 anymore.

ABOUT THE WRITER Fred Hilton spent 36 years as the chief public relations officer/spokesman for James Madison University in Virginia and 10 years prior as a reporter and editor for The Roanoke Times in Roanoke, Virginia. He is now happily retired in The Villages with his interior designer wife, Leta, their Cadillac Escalade golf cart, and their dog, Paris. (Yes, that makes her Paris Hilton).

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AN INSPIRED LIVING EXPERIENCE FROM

III PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE III

Physicians and staff at the Heart of the Villages will soon be taking the next step in the evolution of this very popular cardiovascular practice—and they can barely contain their excitement.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON.

earts are beating faster at the Heart of the Villages because something BIG is in the wind, and they can’t wait to share it with you! After only seven years as an integral part of the medical community in The Villages, patient numbers have increased and the practice has evolved to the next level—and that has everyone very excited. With this outstanding growth, the demands for the signature compassionate care have increased. There finally came a point when decisions had to be made—so they made them. Heart of the Villages is moving! Not far at all as the golf cart cruises—only five minutes. But miles away in terms of what the new location will mean to the doctors and staff and more importantly, to their patients. Dr. Georg Couturier, founder and head cardiologist puts it this way, “Sometimes, when you are so involved in your practice of medicine, you don’t have time to lift your head up a bit and look around to be sure you are doing all you can for your patients and your staff. We always want to be better, and this move allows us to make the necessary changes to do that.” The new location will be in The Oaks Professional Building at 8575 NE 138th Lane, still close to The Villages of course, but also accessible from Spruce Creek and Del Webb. The new “Heart” will be significantly

III PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE III

closer to the The Villages Regional Hospital, and that is an important point Dr. Couturier wants to stress: “It is certainly a benefit to our patients should an emergency situation arise. We are closer to the hospital, which is important when minutes count. But close proximity also helps patients waiting with office appointments. Less time the doctor spends going back and forth to the hospital means more time with patients during appointments.” The move will also result in a dramatic increase in office space— with room to expand in the future. What that means for physicians and staff is literally a lot more room to work—the new facility is a much more spacious 7,000 square feet. They will be adding to their numbers of exam rooms—11 exam rooms up from seven. The number of treatment rooms will double—from three to six. Everything from administrative offices to waiting will be larger and more accommodating, making things more comfortable for staff and patients. But the real excitement comes from looking closely at what this next evolution means for Heart of the Villages patients. From the outset, the new facility provides a more comfortable setting with improved patient flow. The increased space and more efficient floor plan means shorter wait times for patients. Perhaps the most dramatic improvement patients will find when they

drive in! The parking situation has been dramatically improved—an improvement long overdue. Patients now will have their choice of 140 parking spaces reserved just for them! Heart of the Villages always maintains a close relationship with the leading edge of medical technology and changing locations presents an ideal opportunity for the practice to selectively add more of the exciting technologies and improved patient treatment options that are developing today. “Because of the increase in space, we will have the room to integrate newer technology and services like cardiac rehab, medical supervised weight loss, and dietary counseling.” We will soon have a new and more robust website that will improve things for all of us. New patients docupatitien pa ents ts will wililll be able abl blee to aaccess cces cc esss do docu cu--

ments online before their first visit. Established patients, in the spirit of full disclosure, will have access to their doctor’s actual progress notes! Plus, all patients will be able to receive important communications from our doctors whenever it becomes necessary. “Our new location also puts us in closer proximity to other physicians and other medical specialties, which will make things much more convenient for our patients. We like to help make the most of a patient’s time wherever we can.” One new development the practice has already begun to implement is a brand new information technology system to keep patients up to date and informed about their treatments. A system of several closed circuit video touchscreens is currently slated for the new facility—to exam faci fa cilility ty—t —too be aavailable vaililab va able le iinn ex am rooms as well as in the waiting room ro omss wel om elll in the wa waititin ingg room. Patients can scroll through

digital content to educate themselves about their specific condition. Physicians will use the video screens to call up specific content during an exam to help explain to a patient exactly what the condition is and the scope of treatment. All this talk of change and growth may cause some to worry that the quality of care they’ve known and become comfortable with might suffer. If anything, Dr. Couturier says, it will get much better. “This gives us a chance to adopt the best protocols and procedures, to embrace the best medical practice. We expect to be even better than we’ve been so far!” The faces of The Heart of The Villages are not going to change. Dr. Georg Couturier is not going anywhere. Neither is Dr. Mark Rothschild or Dr. Vatsal Inamdar. Bryan Carter will continue treating and improving thee ve venous impr im prov ovin ingg th veno nous us hhealth ealtlthh of his ea his patients. Erica Harden, p titien pa ents ts.. Er Eric icaa Ha Hard rden en,, the newest addition to the “Heart” family, fami m ly, will wiill provide her overall wellness p ovid pr idee he ov over eral alll we wellllne ness ss aand nd nnuu-

III PAID PAID PROMOTIONAL PROM PROM MO OTIIONA O L FFEATURE EAT EA ATTTU A URE II URE III

trition guidance. Devin Di Scala and Scott Wojciechowski will still be on the front lines providing in-hospital support. Nothing will change except the location and the opportunities to help patients even more than before. After the move to the new location, the final evolution of the Heart of The Villages will be a new brand and a new image. “Heart of the Villages” will change its name and a team of marketing experts is hard at work, in discussions with the Heart of the Villages, developing the new name and new look even as this article goes to press. “We had a good seven years in our location in The Villages, and we

will always be grateful for our time there. But a new state-of-the-art facility that we control and ﬁt to our patients’ needs is better for all of us. I am looking forward to a more comfortable, more pleasant working environment where we can all do our best work. I know in the end, it will pay off for us and our patients!”

Heart of the Villages is empowering their patients to take an active role in their health. Our patient exam rooms are equipped with an interactive digital wallboard that allows for active, visual dialogue between our patients with their physician. The exam room also comes with a CardioTablet where patients can learn about their cardiac condition and treatment procedures while they wait.

________________________________

FOR MORE INFORMATION

HEART OF THE VILLAGES 1149 Main Street, The Villages, FL 32159 352.674.2080 www.heartofthevillages.com

“I’m looking forward to a more comfortable working environment…where we can all do our best work.” — Dr. Georg Couturier, MD FACC

Congratulations ions are in order for the th accomplishments of Broker and Owner of RE/ MAX TOUCHSTONE’s own Addie Owens. Addie has earned the distinguished RE/MAX Platinum Club and Hall of Fame awards. She has also been recognized as being in The Real Trends Real Estate top 1% ranking in the nation! Her persistent efforts to always rise above her last success has propelled her to a new level of performance. Now transitioning from Top Producing Associate to Broker/Owner, Addie is committed to the continued growth and success of her company and agents. Under her direction, RE/MAX TOUCHSTONE is customer centered, development focused and results driven. Addie’s mission is to raise the bar in Real Estate, and she is well on her way with the expansion of the team! Please welcome Ashley Selph, Jaime Edmondson, Randy Mason, and Amy Farrell! They recently made the decision to join RE/MAX TOUCHSTONE and are excited to grow their business!

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LEADING THE WAY IN SUPERIOR CATARACT SURGERY 7ITH "REAKTHROUGH 4ECHNOLOGIES THAT 2ESTORE 6ISION &ROM %VERY $ISTANCE As the first local practice to offer the industry’s most accurate laser cataract surgery and the only FDA-approved extended depth-of-focus lenses for crisp multi-range vision, Lake Eye remains at the forefront of advanced cataract treatment. Drs. Scot Holman, Scott Wehrly and Vinay Gutti combine world-class surgical experience and breakthrough technologies to restore healthy vision - and better lives - to countless satisfied patients.

Lake Eye – the clear choice for clear vision.

Board-certified ophthalmologists (from left to right):

s ,AKE%YE COM s

VINAY GUTTI, MD, SCOTT R. WEHRLY, MD and SCOT C. HOLMAN, MD

Pictured from left to right: Scot Holman, MD; Scott Wehrly, MD; and Vinay Gutti, MD

LAKE EYE ASSOCIATES – The Technological Leader in Advanced Cataract Surgery If you’re one of the roughly 25 million Americans suffering from blurred, murky vision caused by cataracts, you may be wondering what options are available to restore healthy vision and return your world into focus. For answers, let’s turn to Lake Eye Associates’ Board Certified ophthalmologists and experienced cataract surgeons, Drs. Scot Holman, Scott Wehrly and Vinay Gutti. “Cataracts are the most common cause of vision deterioration in people 55 and older,” says Dr. Wehrly. “People find they’re unable to see clearly, which causes many to give up things like reading, tennis, golf and driving, which can lessen one’s quality of life.”

Because cataracts are common and can be dangerous when left untreated, the doctors of Lake Eye remain at the forefront of advances in cataracts surgery and replacement lens technologies. Lake Eye was the first local provider to offer a series of breakthrough cataract procedures, including the LenSx® surgery system, which captures high-resolution 3D images of the eye for superior cataract isolation and unparalleled surgical planning. LenSx® utilizes computer guidance and a femtosecond laser to remove the cataract-damaged lens with impressive accuracy, without blades or cutting. “It is the safest and most accurate cataract surgery system ever created,” says Dr. Holman. “It is

painless, effective and typically takes under 10 minutes.” Another first employed by Lake Eye is the ORA™ System with VerifEye+™ Technology, which allows Lake Eye’s surgeons to assess the eye during surgery and obtain measurement and alignment data in real time, for the optimal selection and positioning of the intraocular replacement lens, or IOL. “ORA facilitates incredible accuracy in the placement and selection of the right IOL for each patient,” says Dr. Gutti, “and gives me superior analysis of astigmatism, improving outcomes by nearly 54%. That is a huge advance.” Selecting the IOL best suited to each patient is paramount in long-term satisfaction, and Lake Eye specializes in the most advanced IOLs in the industry. Lake Eye leads the way by being the first local provider to offer the Tecnis Symfony®, the first and only FDA-approved extended depth-offocus lens, which creates seamless multi-range vision correction at all distances, even in patients with astigmatism. “The Symfony

III PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE III

operates more like a normal, healthy lens than any IOL ever created,” says Dr. Wehrly. “It is optimized to produce elongated focus for an uninterrupted range of vision, from close up to far away and everything in between. The majority of patients report no longer needing glasses or using them only occasionally. We’re excited to be the first in the area to offer this IOL to patients.” Once upon a time, cataracts meant a lifetime of poor vision, even blindness. But thanks to progress in cataract technologies and the extensive training, experience and technical savvy of Lake Eye’s team of surgeons, bright, clear, healthy vision is here to stay. Lake Eye is Lake County’s unrivaled frontrunner in cataract surgery and vision restoration lenses – because when it comes to something as important as your vision, second best is never an option.

Tavares | The Villages | Lady Lake | Leesburg 3525.750.2020 www.LakeEye.com

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THE HE RK DARK DE SIDE OF LIFE IFE 38

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We live in a beautiful area—lakes, forests, urban growth. But there is a part that we don’t always see: the dark side of what’s happening in our community— homelessness, human trafﬁcking, hunger, teen alcoholism. When we become aware, we ﬁnd ways to respond in a manner that helps and builds a sense of hope for the future. STORY: LEIGH NEELY+THERESA CAMPBELL+ DEBBI KIDDY PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ+PROVIDED

October 20 16

HOMELESSNESS

A place to call home

iving in the woods and looking for food can be a dangerous way to live, and it has taken its toll on one homeless military veteran who is tired of it all. “Being homeless is not as bad as what people think—it’s worse and it’s treacherous—I wouldn’t wish this on anybody,” says U.S. Air Force veteran Michael Alan Jeffries, 50.

He was brutally attacked and knocked unconscious on Aug. 5 while walking on the bike trail adjacent to 717 N. 14th St., Leesburg around 6 p.m., and when Leesburg police ofﬁcers arrived, they found Michael on the ground under a picnic table in a pool of blood. He was airlifted to Ocala Regional Medical Center where surgeons reconstructed the left side of his face. According to a Leesburg police report, Brian Edward Jenkins, 43, of Leesburg, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and bodily harm on a disabled person. Witnesses told police the two men had gotten into an altercation before they went separate ways. The LPD report states Brian returned and started a second altercation when he struck Michael with his ﬁst, knocking him to the ground. The beating reportedly continued while he was down. “I don’t know how I survived. It’s by the grace of God that I’m alive,” says Michael, speaking from his

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hospital bed on Aug. 12, just a couple of hours before he was released. His left eye was swollen shut, and Michael grimaced as he touched his reconstructed face. “There’s nothing but pain, swelling, plates, and screws.” Last-minute attempts were made to get him a ride from the hospital, food, medication from a pharmacy, and a temporary place to recuperate. “I was really surprised to see the shape that he’s in. No human being should be beat on like that,” says Jack Spivey, a close friend and Vietnam War veteran. “Me and my wife think a lot of him.” Michael was noted as being among the growing number of individuals in Lake County who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence—a definition for homelessness. It’s challenging for officials to pinpoint the exact number of individuals in the county sleeping in woods, motels, cars, abandoned buildings, or on the sofas of friends, yet Lake County

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Schools identified 1,947 students as homeless on the last day of the 2015-16 school year. “However, when the survey 5 number is provided by the state (this month), it will reflect that count to be increased by 300-500 students,” says Kristin McCall, Families in Transition Liaison for Lake County Schools Student Services. Just days before his recent attack, Michael shed some light on the dark side of homelessness—a situation he never expected to happen to him. “I was on top of the world, making close to a quarter-ofa-million a year,” he says, recalling back when he was working 12-hour days in the construction field in New Jersey. “I had the American dream, a two-story house with three bedrooms and a white picket fence,” he says. Once the economy tanked and construction jobs diminished in the Great Recession, his life began to spiral downward. He also found himself in a messy divorce

that he claims cost him over $400,000, and he lost his home when he learned the mortgage payments had not been paid in 1½ years. Alone and broke, he chose to come to Lake County, the place he spent summer vacations as a young boy. The area was struggling to rebound in the recession, and being homeless has been Michael’s way of life since 2009. Certified to design wastewater systems, alternative systems, and replace pumps, Michael says a felony on his record—stemming from being attacked and stabbed by four homeless men in 2010—doesn’t look good with employers and disqualified him from HUD housing. “You have to be more than protective out on the streets,” Michael says. “There are homeless people who steal from homeless for something as small as Ramen noodles that cost 25 cents at Wal-Mart.” He meets people shocked to learn he’s homeless. He doesn’t fit the stereotype. “I’ve had people tell me that I’m not homeless because I didn’t stink,” he says. “It’s called a little bit of personal pride. I will stand under a hose and bathe myself at least twice a day, if I have to.” Michael doesn’t want to be homeless forever. “My goal is to get off the streets and be able to stay off,” he says. “I’m too old for this.” His life became brighter four years ago, he says, when he met his significant

October 20 16

other, Tabitha Crosby, 42, who is also homeless. He calls her his “wife,” even though they are not legally married. The couple is their own little family unit with their beloved dog, Jayden, who was born in the woods. Michael hasn’t told

a job!’ ” Michael says. “There are people willing to give, but for the most part, there are people who don’t want to give.” He understands the skepticism towards panhandlers. “You’ve got some homeless doing it so they can afford to get drugs and their alcohol.”

“But then we had people come to our tent and take advantage of it,” he says, adding it all came to a halt when they found their tent and belongings burnt to the ground. Michael believes the burning was out of revenge for not supplying beer.

through a regimented program at a Eustis shelter for homeless vets, Veterans Organization of Resource and Recovery for the Homeless (V.O.R.R.H.), but he doesn’t want to leave Tabitha. Lloyd Thorne, a Vietnam War veteran and executive

“Being homeless is not as bad as what people think—it’s worse and it’s treacherous—I wouldn’t wish this on anybody.” —MICHAEL JEFFRIES

his 31-year-old son in Jacksonville that he’s homeless. “I’m not going to bring that on him. It’s not his problem, it’s mine,” he says. He keeps busy doing odd jobs around the county to generate money for him and Tabitha to live day by day, such as mow grass, cut trees, painting, construction work, and ﬁxing things. He was off the streets a few years back, paying $400 a month for a three-bedroom house on the lake, only to discover the property owner wasn’t paying the mortgage or taxes. “They sold the home in a tax sale, and the gentleman who bought it raised the rent to $900,” Michael says. That was more than he could afford, and he was homeless again. During desperate times for money, he has been on the street corner “ﬂying the sign” about his plight. “I’ve had people pelt me with garbage a few times, throw food at me, yell ‘go get

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Some of those in the woods are highly educated people, he says, suffering from substance abuse and mental disorders. “There is one guy I know who has a bad crack and cocaine habit, and this man graduated with honors from MIT, and he has his doctorate in mechanical engineering,” Michael says. “I’ve seen him eating out of a trash can.” Among the growing number of homeless he sees are families with young children. “There are people who have had children born out in the camps, and there are little babies. Some use their own children to get money off of people for sympathy,” Michael says, adding he feels that’s so wrong. “You’re not supposed to let your kids provide for you; you’re supposed to provide for your kids,” he says. There was a time when Michael and Tabitha were feeding 15 to 20 people at their campsite.

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“Things have been taken away from me and Tabitha so many times that it’s unreal, down to a pair of shoes,” he says. “You have to have the guts to stand up for yourself and when you fall, pick yourself back up.” Nowadays, the couple finds it can be difficult in knowing who to trust. There are local shelters Michael and Tabitha could go to for help, but they wouldn’t be able to stay together, and Michael says he doesn’t want to be separated from Tabitha or their dog. “I’m not going to leave them on the streets,” he says, fighting back tears. “I could get in the Men’s Mission (Men’s Residence of Christian Care Center), but to get in there, you have to be a recent alcoholic or drug addict; we can’t go to the Samaritan Inn, because we don’t have kids; and she can’t go to the Haven because she’s not a battered woman,” says Michael. He’s been invited to go

director of V.O.R.R.H., understands Michael’s concerns, and has helped him get his DD214, veterans services, and other essentials. “This man has a heart of gold, and there are not many people out there like him,” Michael says of Lloyd. A hospital official filed a disability claim for Michael to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) after his neck was broken in a physical attack last February, and the funding would provide the steady income Michael and Tabitha need to obtain permanent housing. His prayers were answered Aug. 26 when he opened a letter from Social Security and learned his SSI benefits were on their way, and it was just a matter of Michael having a bank account for direct deposit of the funds. The first monthly check was deposited in late September. “This is a big relief. It’s kind of hard to believe, and I’ll

THE DARK SIDE OF LAKE

October 20 16

THE DARK SIDE OF LIFE

A brighter day for Michael, Tabitha, and Jayden as they enjoy the summer sunshine on a trail in downtown Leesburg.

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believe it when I see it, even though I know it’s happening,” Michael says, sitting inside Wells Fargo in Leesburg, where he opened a checking and savings account. “This is the ﬁrst time I’ve had a bank account in seven years,” he says. Lloyd plans to help Michael and Tabitha reintegrate into the mainstream of society and help them explore housing options. As co-founder of V.O.R.R.H. with Helen Shaut, they began the program in 2010 to provide transitional housing for 50 homeless veterans, outpatient counseling, and helped vets get connected with Veterans Affairs’ services. Lloyd and Helen also make visits to homeless camps to provide clothes, food, tarps, can openers, socks, and baby wipes. Lloyd also checks to see if the veterans and other homeless individuals need medical attention. “A lot of homeless vets

don’t have anybody,” says Lloyd. “We have traumatic issues that homeless veterans are dealing with, depression, post-traumatic stress, and some drink to numb the pain, and we hear from veterans all over the state wanting to go through our program.” As Lake County’s only shelter for homeless veterans, it relies heavily on community support for the shelter and the V.O.R.R.H. Thrift Store, 1614 S. Bay St., Eustis. One of V.O.R.R.H. successful graduates is U.S. Air Force veteran Norman Peterson, 64, who was homeless before he went through the two-year structured, sweat-equity program. Norman now has his own home, a car, and has reunited with his family. He returns to V.O.R.R.H. regularly as a volunteer and strives to motivate the homeless with encouragement that they can rebuild their lives.

“I don’t know how I survived. It’s by the grace of God that I’m alive.”

CARING FOR HOMELESS Salvation Army, food pantries, and several Christian ministries in Lake County aim to provide services for the homeless, based on Matthew 25:35-36. ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ SAMARITAN INN, LEESBURG As one of eight ministries of the Christian Care Center, the inn is a shelter for up to 17 homeless families who pay nothing for to stay as they work to rebuild their lives. One resident is a homeless grandmother raising her grandchild. “We offer personal and family counseling to all our residents,” says Director Josh Gussler. Some 150 families have gone through the program since 2010. Residents have a case plan they must follow, along with career counseling, parenting classes, and ﬁnancial accountability. “Our hope is when families leave the Samaritan Inn they have a solid foundation,” says Josh. THE OPEN DOOR, EUSTIS The daytime drop-in center is a LifeStream program. It provides access to showers, laundry, food, and connections to other services in a safe, comfortable environment. “Most say they are grateful we are here,” says Diane Popieski, outreach specialist, who sees about 25 clients a day. The oldest homeless client is 75.

COME AS YOU ARE MINISTRY, LEESBURG Pastors and founders Derrick and Joanne Knight provide daily breakfast and lunch meals for the homeless, a food pantry, classes, and help them with a wide range of services. “We had a 62-year-old gentleman who was living in the woods,” says Joanne. “We submitted his application for widower’s benefits, SSI, and he got approved. The first words out of his mouth: ‘I can get off the street now.’” NEW BEGINNINGS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, CLERMONT Founded by retired banker Steve Smith in 2007, New Beginnings provides transitional housing and job skills training. More than 300 formerly homeless single men, moms with children, and families have been helped, and now is in the works to build 96-unit Woodwind Apartments in efforts to bring affordable housing to South Lake. Homeless expert Dr. Robert Marbut told Leesburg city leaders that homeless individuals “must be engaged and no longer enabled,” and that it was vital for the community to “embrace a culture of transformation” to help the homeless integrate back into society. Dr. Marbut’s report was very enlightening,” says Leesburg City Manager Al Minner, who notes finances is the biggest challenge in addressing the homeless effort. “There’s uncertainty about whether an investment will fix the issue, and the lack of regional investment going in to address the problem.”

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HUMAN TRAFFICKING

A prison without bars

ost Americans will tell you slavery ended with the Civil War. In fact, the exact date it became illegal to own human beings in the United States is Dec. 18, 1865. However, it still exists today—in the world, in Florida, and in Lake County. Of the calls received at the National Human Trafficking Resource Center in 2015, most of them were received from the United States, and Florida ranks third. Modern slavery is thriving with victims being exploited in forced labor, debt bondage, human trafficking, forced and servile marriage, and child slavery. Walk Free defines modern slavery as “one person possessing or controlling another person in such a way as to significantly deprive that person of their individual liberty, with the intention of exploiting that person through their use, management, profit, transfer, or disposal.”

With forced labor, people are often recruited with the promise of a good job to send money back home to family. When they reach the site of the new job, passports or identification papers are taken, and they are forced to work in horrible conditions without pay. Debt bondage occurs when the promise of relocation is costly and those looking for a better life can never work off the “debt.” Forced and servile marriage, thought to be in the past, still happens in poverty-stricken countries. Fathers bargain their daughters or outright sell them to be wives. According to Florida Abolitionist, a nonprofit group from Orlando, there were two incidents of human trafficking as recently as July. First, a human trafficking ring in Seminole

County, sold women online. Forced into prostitution, they used hotels and motels across Central Florida. Second, a woman ran a drug house from a room at an EconoLodge in Atlantic Beach. Awareness and education are key to the battle in the state today. According to Kristi Gray, MSW, “Child protective investigators and case managers responding to these victims must complete an initial six-hour specialized training course and quarterly training. Furthermore, this past January, DCF published the Florida Administrative Code 65C-43, which deﬁnes placement and service requirements for sexually exploited children.” Kristi is communications director for Florida Department of Children

and Families, (DCF) Central Region. She says the DCF has responded to reports of human trafficking since May 2009. “This was a collaborative effort with the Department of Juvenile Justice and other partners as a statewide Human Trafficking Screening Tool,” Kristi stated. The screening identifies young victims of labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children. “Along with identifying trafficking victims as early as possible, the HTST also wants to fill the gap in research on how many potential victims and verified victims of labor trafficking and commercial exploitation enter our child welfare system,” Kristi says. Since the DCF began providing reports of incidents, numbers have steadily risen in the state. Perhaps the scar-

iest fact of all is the majority of victims are trafficked by someone they know. Education and raising awareness in the community resulted in increased allegations of human trafficking reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline. In 2015 there were 16 reports investigated in Lake and Sumter counties. The first six months this year, 12 allegations were reported. “Identifying the victims is the first step in matching children with the services they need,” says DCF Secretary Mike Carroll. “Every citizen should learn to recognize and report the signs of human trafficking.” There are many ways to be lured into human trafficking, but one key element— vulnerability. A woman’s request for a ride from a trucker led to two years in forced prostitution. The Florida Trucking Association is actively involved in teaching drivers to know the signs of sex trafficking or abuse seen at truck stops. They’re also training truck-stop workers to recognize the signs. “As an association, we decided to become a strategic partner with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) a couple of years ago,” says Ken Armstrong, Ph.D., president of the group. “Our board of directors formally adopted the cause, and we’ve made huge strides in getting carrier member companies to commit to training their drivers and employees on the TAT materials.” Mary Katherine Fechtel was Miss Florida 2015.

October 20 16

Her platform was human trafficking. “Trafficking is a trendy topic in recent years, but we can’t stop at awareness. It was my honor to foster awareness as Miss Florida, but now that I have no crown, my work is not done,” Mary Katherine says. “Everyone has a part in standing up against exploitation. It is crucial to understand the cycle of our involvement in trafficking.” Online safety was her tool to educate youth and parents about exploitation on the internet. “Traffickers have easy and anonymous access to youth seeking attention online. It doesn’t take much to get them to send an inappropriate photo and then use it for coercion,” she says. “This is how trafficking and sextortion cases begin.” Parents or teachers of teenagers must watch for the signs. Monitor time on the internet and be aware of content they peruse. Block a child’s access to inappropriate websites, know who they contact on cell phones. Take advantage of parental controls. “Every time we accept the idea that a woman or girl’s worth depends on appearance, we perpetrate trafficking. Every time we accept vulgarity we normalize exploitation,” Mary Katherine says. “The internet revolutionized exploitation.” There are countless state, county, and local groups that create awareness and educate. Check out the Florida Statewide Taskforce on Human Trafficking or find a

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45.8 MILLION

people are enslaved worldwide —––––––——

68% are subject to forced labor (International Labour Organization)

—––––––——

NEARLY

1 in 3

detected victims of slavery is a child (UNODC Global Report on Trafﬁcking Persons)

—––––––——

SLAVERY GENERATES

150

BILLION

in illegal proﬁts per year. —––––––——

If you suspect a child is a victim, please call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE.

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local program. Surf the web for information on things like House Bill 99, which passed in 2012. It allows teens to be “dependent” rather than “delinquent.” That means officers may take them to a safe house or shelter instead of jail. Many are still in high school, yet they must find a way to support themselves, secure housing, and continue school alone. The Lake County Human Trafficking Taskforce, established in 2012, includes members from the sheriff’s office, various police departments, Florida Department of Children and Families, Department of Health, State Attorney’s Office and many more. “Detective Daniel Morales and I are on the Lake County Human Trafficking Task Force, which meets every other month,” says Detective Amber Warren of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. “We do presentations for various organizations,.” It was reported that as many as 98 percent of children survivors of sex trafficking were in legal or foster care. Forward Paths Foundation is dedicated to helping those aging out of foster care and other homeless or abandoned youth. Created by local Guardians ad Litem, attorneys, DCF case managers, and other executives and entrepreneurs, they know what happens to young people thrust into an adult world with no support. Denise Burry, is president. She knows the realities and

statistics that surround these kids. More than 3,000 teens aged out of foster care without a family according to the DCF. These numbers break down like this: 1 in 4 will be incarcerated within two years; more than 20 percent are homeless after age 18; less than 3 percent earn a high school degree by age 19. “Through Forward Paths, we provide housing, mentoring, help with GED studies, and life-skills training,” Denise says. “ The foundation’s goal is to buy a 16-unit apartment building in Leesburg to provide temporary housing. There will be an on-site resident manager to ensure a safe environment while they pursue education and job-training. Tabatha Williams has experienced the horror of abandonment. She was given up for adoption at eight months; her adopted mother had a drug problem that led to years of abuse and foster care at 17. “I tried to overdose, and I was raped while I was in foster care, and moved around a lot,” Tabatha says. Now, thanks to Pam Marshall, Tabatha is headed in the right direction. “They encourage me to do better, and they don’t judge me,” Tabatha says. She is currently a student at Lake Tech, studying to take her GED and has plans to be an occupational therapist in the future. “I feel like it’s going to be good. I wake up happy every day, and I feel like I have a bright future.”

A soup kitchen and a food pantry blossom from Seeds of Hope. HUNGER

Helping hands

he aroma of Mexican spices ﬁlls the air of Wildwood Soup Kitchen while volunteers prepared large pots of Pedro’s Surprise, a taco-type casserole of cooked hamburger, tomatoes, salsa, lettuce, onion, cheese, and tortilla chips to feed nearly 300 people, including 170 meals delivered to homebound residents. Sumter County’s only soup kitchen is housed in the fellowship hall of Wildwood First Presbyterian Church and the kitchen is operated as a shared, ecumenical ministry of one temple and several Christian churches.

Many of the “guests,” as diners are called, mingle with one another before the cafeteria-style lunch meal is served Monday through Saturday. A nearby table is often ﬁlled with donated grocery store breads and bakery items for guests to take home. “The food here is very, very good, and being seniors, we are thankful that we can come to a place where the food is fresh,” says Roberta Harvey, 81, of Lake Panasoffkee. Her husband Curtis joins her.

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Enjoying a meal at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen.

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“I love what they have,” says Ricky Patterson, 58, of Wildwood, who has been dining at the soup kitchen off and on for 12 years. “It’s real nice to have somewhere to go to for a meal. A lot of cities don’t have that.” Joseph Silva, 92, of Wildwood, appreciates dining with other guests. “There’s a nice social atmosphere here,” he says. Conversations are jovial in the kitchen, too, where

ful, and they also provide us with thousands of pounds of food,” Dana says, adding it’s the largest fundraiser for the soup kitchen and began more than 20 years ago. Volunteers begin making plans this month for the 12th annual Seeds of Hope, according to Villages resident Bonnie Kusky, one of the organizers, who noted the 2017 Seeds of Hope concerts will be hosted in February and March 2017.

who have been with us mostly the whole time. We hear, ‘You don’t realize how much this helps us.’ ” The pantry serves 350 North Sumter County families a month; distribution days are hosted on the ﬁrst and third Friday. “In three hours from 9 to 12 o’clock on pantry day, it’s a madhouse, but it’s a controlled madhouse,” Marlene says of 40 volunteers giving out bags

hash, canned chicken, salmon, tuna, peanut butter, and macaroni and cheese. Many of the pantry’s clients are the working poor, according to Don, where the head of household is working, but because of low wages or reduced hours, it’s hard to make ends meet. Marlene agrees with one homeless man who noticed food pantry donors are more generous and giving at holidays and Christmastime.

“The food here is very, very good, and being seniors, we are thankful that we can come to a place where the food is fresh.” —ROBERTA HARVEY

a crew of volunteers work away, following the lead of Dana McCarthy, the Thursday captain, and his wife of 47 years, Diane, the Thursday cook. The couple has been volunteers at the soup kitchen for 13 years. “It’s the highlight of our week,” says Dana. He praises community support for the kitchen and the Seeds of Hope beneﬁt, which annually raises money and collects food for the soup kitchen and also the Wildwood Food Pantry. Each organization recently received $27,748.98 from the fundraiser, and the money was raised during Seeds of Hope concerts hosted at area churches and Temple Shalom. “Seeds of Hope is wonder-

Don and Marlene Huggins, coordinators of the Wildwood Food Pantry, housed on the grounds of Wildwood United Methodist Church, say Seeds of Hope funds are a blessing for the pantry during lean summer months when food donations and monetary contributions are down. The Huggins have been involved with the pantry since it began in 2005. “It has been a labor of love,” Don says inside the pantry’s air-conditioned warehouse ﬁlled with neatly organized boxes of popular food staples, including boxes of pancake mix. “Our clients are very grateful. A majority of them are families of one or two,

of food. Families of one (mostly widows and widowers) get 40 pounds of food, along with cereal and juice. Families of 9 to 11 receive 125 pounds or more of food. “We provide what I would say is a balanced diet. It’s not just a lot of useless carbs,” says Marlene, pleased that the pantry is able to give families several protein meals. The pantry also makes efforts to provide items clients cannot purchase with food stamps, such as toiletries, hygiene products, paper products, and soap. The need for toiletries never ends, and there’s also the constant demand for canned fruits, canned pasta, pork and beans, chili, stew, or

“It really should be Christmas year round because the need does not go away,” she says. The Huggins are appreciative of groups and individuals who do recognize the need. Tax-exempt donations can be sent to Wildwood Food Pantry, 300 Mason St., Wildwood, FL 34785, or by calling the church at 748-1245. The coordinators say the food pantry is thankful for its loyal volunteers, and support from New Covenant United Methodist Church in The Villages. “We have been richly blessed, and we are able to pass these blessings on to our clients,” Don says. “Being here is a blessing and a passion.”

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TEEN ALCOHOLISM

Think before you drink

lthough teen alcoholism in the United States has been slowly declining over the last few years, according to the 2015 Monitoring the Future Survey, and Responsibility.org, it’s still an issue. “It is still a major problem in our community,” says Debi MacIntyre, executive director, Be Free Lake, formerly called the Safe Climate Coalition. “We are a community coalition focused on keeping kids away from alcohol and drugs.”

If you were raised in a household where the alcohol ﬂowed freely, even to younger members of the family, you may be surprised at the negative consequences. The

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National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports, “Alcohol abuse constitutes one of the most serious public health issues for young people in the United States, creating

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negative health, social, and economic consequences for adolescents, their families, and communities, and for the nation as a whole.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration (SAMHSA) adds that “adolescent alcohol use is a serious threat to adolescent development and health.” “Teenagers and alcohol is just not a good mix. Nothing good can come from it,” says Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders. “It’s an issue we take very seriously and that’s why we routinely conduct undercover operations targeting those who sell alcoholic beverages to minors.” In 2014, SAMHSA reported that more than 1.6 million youth between 12 and 20 years old admitted to drinking and driving. Wrecks are the leading cause of teenage deaths in America and almost 25

percent of those crashes involve an underage driver who’s been drinking alcohol. This should be a concern for anyone who drives. Debi says drinking is often generational, and in order to prevent teens from abusing alcohol and becoming addicts, it is important to educate parents about the effects of alcohol on a teen’s stilldeveloping brain. “For a long time, drinking has been very much a part of a growing up ritual here. What we’ve done is try to change that mentality,” she says. Be Free Lake creates awareness and provides education and programs for the prevention and reduction of substance abuse among teens. “We have been very involved with the community regarding social norms campaigns to help educate not only kids but parents,” Debi says. BFL uses a variety of means to accomplish its goals. To counter statistics, BFL distributes a pamphlet and DVD titled, “Know the Law—A Guide for Youth and Parent,” that deﬁnes an alcoholic beverage, explains the laws regarding alcohol and minors, and conveys penalties involved for underage drinking and getting a DUI. In 2015, 4,000 pamphlets were distributed through the Lake County School Board and 4,000 went to Sumter County schools. The consequences of

Every day in the United States, more than

4,750 KIDS UNDER AGE 16

have their ﬁrst drink of alcohol —––––––—— Youth who start drinking before the age of 15 are

TIMES MORE LIKELY

to develop alcohol dependence or abuse in their lifetimes than those who begin drinking at age 21 or later —––––––——

1 in 7 About

TEENS 1 IN 100 PARENTS binge drinks, yet only

think their teen binge drinks

an arrest for underage drinking or driving under the inﬂuence of alcohol are often long term. “You can’t get into the service. You can’t be a teacher, a lawyer, a ﬁreman, or an EMT if you have a felony,” Debi says. These negative consequences are in addition to legal costs, which could add up to more than $10,000. In an effort to spread the word, BFL has conducted programs for the Boys and Girls Club, with Outward Bound students, and in local school systems. Debi also speaks to students in a Social Problems class at Lake-Sumter State College every semester and takes a state attorney with her to discuss “Know the Law.” One program BFL fosters is a non-alcoholic approach to coping with life’s stresses, called Friday Night Done Right, with activities to help teens have fun with friends without alcohol or drugs. BFL also touts a campaign called “Parents Who Host Lose the Most,” which shows the risks and consequences of serving alcohol at teen parties. Other campaigns geared toward parents include the “Be the Wall” and “No One’s House,” which calls for written pledges that alcohol will not be served to teens in their home or any of their friends’ homes. In addition to BFL’s preventative measures, LifeStream Behavioral Center offers Turnabout, an

outpatient substance abuse treatment program for young people (group and individuals) and the Youth and Family Recovery, a home/school youth and family intervention that addresses early-stage use of alcohol and other drugs. The pamphlets, policies, and programs do work, according to the local ofﬁcials. LifeStream Behavioral Center reports progress in the percentages of students who believe it is wrong to drink regularly, up from 59 percent in 2004 to 74 percent in 2014. Alcohol use in the past 30 days is slightly lower in Lake county at 19.5 percent versus the 20.5 percent state average. Binge drinking reported in Lake county was 8.3 percent versus 9.5 percent statewide. A survey completed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration reports underage drinking among youth in the U.S. from age 12-20 declined 21 percent and underage binge drinking dropped by 26.4 percent. Statistics look good in Lake County as well. “We have moved the needle on the underage drinking from sixth in the state to 46th in the state,” Debi says. “We have not had a death due to teen drinking and driving since 2005.”

October 20 16

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PROBLEMS WITH YOUR PROSTATE? Does this sound familiar? As you grow older, do you realize you are getting up more often at night to urinate? Have you come to accept this as in inevitable part of aging as your father did or his father before him? There is no need for men to suffer from frequent urination because they are getting older. Dr. James Young, a down-to-earth urologist in Lake County since 1982, has successfully treated thousands of patients who suffer with enlarged prostate (BPH). What’s even better is that treatment options are more numerous and far less invasive than those offered to our fathers and grandfathers. Dr. Young is internationally recognized as one of the leading experts in Prostiva RF Therapy, an in-office procedure for the treatment of enlarged prostate in men. Prostiva utilizes low-level radiofrequency energy to destroy the obstructing component of the enlarged prostate The procedure allows men to stop taking medications for their prostate issues without undergoing major surgery. That distinction has placed him on Castle Connelly’s prestigious Top Docs list for five consecutive years. “Dr. Young is one of the pioneers

and current leaders of in-office BPH therapy, particularly with the Prostiva RF therapy system,” said Greg Fluet, former CEO of Urologix, Inc. “He has been a consistent and committed champion. For that, I have significant respect and admiration.” Dr. Young has performed more Prostiva procedures than any urologist in the United States and possibly the world. In 2014, he performed nearly 400 Prostiva procedures, accounting for approximately 5 percent of the 8,000 performed worldwide. The procedure is performed in Dr. Young’s office under local anesthesia. “I am very happy with the results I have achieved for many patients using Prostiva RF Therapy,” says Dr. Young, who has successfully treated nearly 3,000 patients with this procedure. Not only is Dr. Young happy; patients are extremely satisfied, as well. That’s evidenced by the glowing reviews he receives on healthgrades.

com and vitals.com from patients who underwent the procedure. “His revolutionary procedure was easy with very little discomfort,” wrote one patient. “My urinary problems have disappeared, I sleep better, and have significantly more energy,” another patient wrote. Dr. Young encourages all patients to visit vitals.com and healthgrades. com to find for themselves what patients are saying. Dr. Young’s Healthgrades online profile was visited 2,311 times between January 2015 and January 2016, ranking him 18th among 978 urologists in Florida. Always striving to be on the cutting-edge of therapies to treat enlarged prostates, Dr. Young will soon be offering a new procedure called Rezum. This safe and efficient treatment uses thermal energy in water vapor to remove obstructive tissue surrounding the prostate. The procedure is performed in-office

III PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE III

under local anesthesia or oral sedation. Dr. Young will be the first urologist in Central Florida to offer this cutting-edge treatment. “It takes less time to perform and destroys even more of the obstructive tissue. It also has rapid symptom relief and minimal discomfort. I’m usually not a doctor who jumps on new technology, but I’ve talked to many urologists who have studied this procedure in clinical trials and are now using this therapy at their practices today. They are extremely pleased with the results they’re receiving.” ________________________________

JAMES W. YOUNG III, M.D. Board-certified Urologist

Practicing in Lake County since 1982 with extensive experience in evaluation and management of prostate problems.

Comprehensive care If you are a first-time patient of Dr. Young, you will receive a detailed examination. “When I see a new patient I perform physical examinations and properly evaluate the patient’s symptoms, thus diagnosing the underlying problem(s),” Dr. Young said. “Next, I describe to the patient what’s normal and then explain what is abnormal with him. Lastly, I teach him his treatment options. If I’ve done a good job of teaching, he will select the correct option for himself.” While prescribing medications for enlarged prostate can be done by primary care physicians, only urologists are trained to thoroughly evaluate the bladder and prostate (including ruling out prostate cancer), as well as providing extremely effective minimally invasive, officebased therapies as alternatives to lifelong medical therapy. With an office staff with nearly

as much experience as the doctor (many have worked with Dr. Young for 25 years), you don’t spend a great deal of time waiting to see him. “We pride ourselves in being timely in seeing our patients. We respect our patients’ time as much as we do our own. Patients appreciate this; many of our patients tell me I have the best office staff on the planet. I consider that a huge compliment.” So if you are waking up at night and have difficulty falling back asleep because you’re worried what may be wrong, then it is time to check in with Dr. Young and have him examine you. “Many men accept frequent bladder urges as part of aging. And while it is part of the aging process, it’s not like death and taxes. There is something you can do about it.”

Prostate Cancer Screening

James W. Young III, M.D. Nationally recognized board-certified urologist

Annually over 50 years of age (At age 40 if family history or African American)

AVAILABLE FOR SECOND OPINIONS FOR BPH AND PROSTATE CANCER

III PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE III

What does The Lake Sumter Group at Morgan Stanley do? We proactively serve a select group of families with the distribution phase of their retirement by offering rigorous, relentless discipline seeking to bring a higher level of predictability.

How does your group achieve that? With ﬁnancial planning tools and discretionary portfolio management, we build plans based on our client’s risk tolerance. As portfolio managers, we manage our clients’ portfolios on a daily basis and guide their objectives, which range from developing a health care strategy to attending to estate planning needs.

How do you help your clients achieve their objectives? Focusing our attention on our clients’ ﬁnancial details means working toward their goal of living the lifestyle they have always envisioned. Having the resources in place to enjoy the next stage of their lives is important in achieving those goals. Perhaps they want to master a new language or travel to see family. Moving ﬁnancial worry away from the front of their minds can put big concerns to rest.

What specific strategies do you offer your clients? Our focus is on ﬁnancial planning which includes retirement planning, retirement income planning, estate planning strategies, college education planning, custom portfolio management, long term care planning and life insurance planning.

Gregory Prevatt, CLTC, CFP® Senior Vice President Portfolio Management Director Financial Advisor gregory.prevatt@morganstanley.com

Michael Monteith Nicole Silberstein Client Service Associate nicole.silberstein@morganstanley.com

Financial Planning Specialist Portfolio Manager Financial Advisor michael.monteith@morganstanley.com

The Lake Sumter Group at Morgan Stanley

What makes your group passionate about what you do? Our clients have spent their working years building a legacy. We enjoy helping them build the next phase of their lives. Having an advisor who can walk that path with them can mean the difference between living, and enjoying, their retirement.

832 Lake Sumter Landing, The Villages, FL 352.751.7845 • Toll free 800.447.6036 morganstanleyfa.com/LakeSumter Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates. This material is intended only for clients and prospective clients of the Portfolio Management program. It has been prepared solely for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument, or to participate in any trading strategy. The individuals mentioned as the Portfolio Management Team are Financial Advisors with Morgan Stanley participating in the Morgan Stanley Portfolio Management program. The Portfolio Management program is an investment advisory program in which the client’s Financial Advisor invests the client’s assets on a discretionary basis in a range of securities. The Portfolio Management program is described in the applicable Morgan Stanley ADV Part 2, available at www.morganstanley.com/ ADV or from your Financial Advisor. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third-party corporate trustee. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and Federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the US. © 2015. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. CRC 1386730 01/16

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SCAN HERE with your smart phone to learn more about Tri-County Podiatry

III PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE III

‘BRANCH’-ING INTO THE VILLAGES Sometimes, escaping the hustle and bustle of a larger city is just what the doctor ordered...

…At least that’s the case for Michael Branch, MD, a board certiﬁed Otolaryngologist (ENT surgeon). Since leaving his practice in Lake Mary to join the Central Florida Health team, he has enjoyed getting to know the residents from The Villages and surrounding areas. “The people here have interesting life stories, are upbeat and positive and want to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Branch, who has been practicing since 1993. “I really like having so many amenities nearby. The centralized location is nice because you are within easy driving distance to larger cities and both coasts. It is also an area that really needed an additional ear, nose and throat surgeon.”

Dr. Branch specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of the ear, nose and throat. He has advanced experience in endoscopic sinus surgery, rhinology, hearing loss and chronic ear surgery. He practices at The Villages® Regional Hospital. His vision and goals align well with Center Florida Health - the not for proﬁt parent company of The Villages® Regional Hospital and Leesburg Regional Medical Center – resulting in a partnership that feels like a perfect match. “Central Florida Health is an excellent company. It is progressive in terms of working to offer high quality care, services and treatment to all patients. The main reason I decided to join the team

is our shared goal to provide high quality medical and surgical care of the ear, nose and throat.” Dr. Branch earned his MD at Wake Forest University, Bowman Gray School of Medicine; and then completed a six year residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. He served as an active duty Otolaryngologist with the United States Navy for 3 years. He then practiced in the Orlando area for 20 years and joined Central Florida Health in January 2016. He has participated in over 20 medical missions to Pucallpa, Peru, performing ear, nose and sinus surgeries in that community. He is a fellow of the American Board of Otolaryngology.

III PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE III

Services offered by Dr. Branch include advanced nasal and sinus surgery (including the latest technology, the in-ofﬁce balloon dilation of the sinuses), ear surgery, hearing evaluations, evaluation of hoarseness and other ear, nose and throat concerns. ________________________________

FOR MORE INFORMATION

MICHAEL BRANCH, MD OTOLARYNGOLOGIST 352.751.8960 1501 U.S. Highway 441 N. Suite 1830, The Villages, FL 32159 TheVillagesRegionalHospital.org

THE LAST IN OUR SERIES FOCUSING ON ISSUES FACING LOCAL VETERANS

A PLACE TO CALL HOME STORY: PAT JOCELYN

he familiar adage “birds of a feather ﬂock together” works well when referring to how people with similar experiences ﬁnd a true bond when they’re together. For many veterans, including those recently re-

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turned stateside, that proverb often helps facilitate a successful re-integration into civilian life and may be a key part of the soldier’s survival. Veterans will tell you there’s something validating and comforting about talking to other men

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and women who have been there and done that. These peers understand what it was like to face daily threats and understand the lasting impact of witnessing unspeakable acts of cruelty. A fellow veteran will also understand those memories

trigger recurring bouts of past-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Imagine the feeling of kinship coming from being a part of a neighborhood called Veterans Villages, with all the homeowners being active military or veterans. The very act of sitting on the front porch would welcome an impromptu conversation with a person who is familiar with the feelings and emotions. It would also add a different tone to neigh-

“I think [the camaraderie that will be established at Veterans Village] will deﬁnitely be key — it’s that sense of community, having an understanding of where your neighbor has been, what they’ve gone through, and what it means to come back. That (will be) a huge piece of this community.”

Artist renderings of the Veterans Villages community.

— DANIELLE STROUD, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF LAKE-SUMTER, FLORIDA

borhood gatherings. Add to that a nonprofit organization providing classes for residents including assistance in resume writing, job hunting, and education enrollment and navigating issues with Veterans Affairs (VA). That scenario will soon be a reality through the combined efforts of several nonprofit organizations: Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter, Combat Veterans to Careers, and USA Cares. “Habitat affiliates work at a grassroots level, and we saw a need to serve our veterans in Lake and Sumter County,” Danielle Stroud, director of development for Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter, explains. “We took the Habitat model of affordable housing and

designing the community for a specific group and wrapped around services for them.” There will be 13 homes and all will be 100 percent compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If an individual’s specific needs go beyond ADA requirements, Danielle says Habitat will work with that homeowner to satisfy those needs. There are similar communities but they are few and far between. “This is the first with this type of model, the first in our area, and is unique to Habitat,” Danielle says. “The cool thing is the partnerships

we’ve developed so we look at veterans’ needs from a holistic perspective.” Finding the ideal location for Veterans Village that was not only a safe environment but also affordable was critical to the project’s success. The town of Umatilla in Lake County ﬁt the bill perfectly. “Originally it was planned for Leesburg, but once we did our studies for the land development costs, it came outside the envelope of affordability,” Danielle says. “The Umatilla site opened up and owners had already done the infrastructure and underground development and impact fees had been

paid so it made it much more fiscally responsible for us to choose that site.” The land has been purchased on beautiful Lake Enola and Danielle says there will be a community garden and an area specified for the veterans on the lake. Groundbreaking for Veterans Village is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5. The event is free and open to the public. “We will be doing a Bob Hope/USO reenactment with a big band,” Danielle says. “At the end, we will raise the first walls of the first veteran homes.” Considering the expected $2.3 million price tag for this endeavor, Habitat welcomes both individual and team monetary donations and/or volunteers to help build the homes.

If you are active military or a veteran and are interested in applying for Veterans Village residency, or you or your organization/club would like to donate funds or volunteer in the build process, contact Danielle Stroud’s ofﬁce at 352-483-0434, ext. 133 or email her at Danielle@habitatls.org.

October 20 16

352.573.9827 paversforyou@gmail.com Licensed and Insured LIC# 45-4915530 The final product met and exceeded all my expectations and plans for another project are already underway.” — Dr. Scott Sittler, Orlando

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERICAL Driveways Walkways Pool Decks Retaining Walls Flooring/Tile Sod Who would have ever thought of doing an airplane hangar with pavers? My wife, who is an interior designer, loves it. — Peter Strimenos, Leesburg

SERVING ALL OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

On the

PHOTO: Provided

scene THE TO-DO LIST LOCAL TALENT OUT & ABOUT SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT HI, SOCIETY!

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On the scene // the to-do list

OCTOBER R To have an event considered for the calendar, send a short text description along with a color photo (if available) 45 days in advance of event to: calendar@akersmediagroup.com or Lake & Sumter Style Calendar, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749

EVENTS OCTOBER 1

LADY LAKE ART IN THE PARK This 12th Annual Lady Lake Art in the Park promises to be another great weekend full of arts, crafts and music. The festivities start at 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at the Log Cabin Park in Lady Lake.

OCTOBER 1

THE LEESBURG SATURDAY MORNING MARKET GREAT SCARECROW BUILDOFF AND EXPO The Saturday Morning Market in Towne Square invites families, individuals, organizations and businesses to showcase their scarecrow-making abilities in the Great Scarecrow Build-Off. Enjoy the Scarecrow Expo on display through Oct. 31. Enjoy live Music from 9:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Downtown Leesburg.

young Korean to the United States and entered into a good school. Based on the movie and television show of the same name. For tickets and info, go to baystreetplayers.org

OCTOBER 1-9

SEUSSICAL, THE MUSICAL The Moonlight Players present a kid’s favorite, Seussical! The story of Horton, an elephant who faces ridicule and danger, protects a speck of dust containing the Whos, and guards an egg left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. His friendship with the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz and the powers of loyalty, family, and community are challenged and emerge triumphant. For tickets and more information go to moonlightplayers. com

OCTOBER 2

BIKE, BLUES & BBQ

OCTOBER 1-2

M*A*S*H Come on down to the Bay Street Players Theatre in Eustis to see your local talent shine! “M.A.S.H” is the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, featuring two unpredictable madcaps, Hawkeye and Duke who are also two of the best chest surgeons in South Korea. They decide to wage a campaign to get a

Bikes, Blues & BBQ is a fundraiser to beneﬁt The Bradley Summersill Foundation. Pay a $15 cover charge to enjoy a rib cook-off dinner, live music with Jeff Howell Blues & Kim Hartmand Bands and more. Festivities are 8:30 a.m. - 11 p.m. at South Lake Moose 1615, 17335 U.S. Highway 27, Minneola.

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OCTOBER 14-16

5th Annual Wings & Wildﬂowers Festival This festival offers more than 100 activities and programs over the course of three days and will feature more than 25 birding, wildﬂower and nature experts. This fun is from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Venetian Gardens 201 E. Dixie Avenue, Leesburg.

OCTOBER 5-9

CORPSE! The IceHouse Theatre presents the comedic thriller, “Corpse!” This show is about an out-of-work British actor who plans to do away with his suave, sophisticated, wealthy twin. Things do not go as they should, and people are not what they seem. This show is rated PG and starts at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information go to icehousetheatre.com

and Mary Tischbien. The fun starts at 8 p.m. at the Clermont Performing Arts Center, 3700 South U.S. Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34711

OCTOBER 8

ROCKTOBERFEST Tavares Rocktoberfest 2016 is a street party kicked off by the Tavares High School Band, with live music from Bluestone Circle, and Hypersona! There will also be German food and a Jeep show. Free and open to the public. Parking is available all about the city including a ﬁve-story free parking garage. Rocktoberfest starts at 5 p.m. at Wooton Park, Tavares.

ing the big band hits of the World War II era. This event brings together the legendary 15-piece Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and vocal group hall of famers, The Pied Pipers, the No. 1 vocal group of all time for six consecutive years as named by Billboard magazine. The program is ﬁlled with recognizable classic songs to be enjoyed by all ages. Enjoy an evening of the hits that inspired many of the greatest recordings ever made. Zoot suits are optional! Performance time: Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $27 for a reserved seat. To purchase tickets, call 352.365.3506

OCTOBER 8 OCTOBER7

42ND ANNUAL MOUNT DORA BICYCLE FESTIVAL The 42nd Annual Mount Dora Bicycle Festival may attract more than 1,300 cyclists for Florida’s oldest and largest bicycling event. With rides of varying lengths and skill levels, cyclist of all ages see why Lake County is recognized as one of the best places in the world to ride. See www.mountdorabicyclefestival.com for schedule of events and times. Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce 341 N. Alexander St., Mount Dora, 352.383.2165.

LEESBURG FOOD TRUCK-N-FLICK/ CLASSIC CAR CRUISE IN NIGHT—LRMC COMMUNITY APPRECIATION CELEBRATION Join us for a special “Food Truck N Flick & Cruise In” night on Main Street as LRMC hosts a Community Appreciation Celebration. More Gourmet Food Trucks assemble at Leesburg Towne Square and Classic Cars line Main Street in downtown Leesburg. Remember to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Mark your calendars now to come to and grab dinner and a movie! For details on this event visit foodtrucknﬂick.leesburgpartnership.com.

OCTOBER 7

CLERMONT COMEDY SERIES Come on down to Clermont for a night full of laughter with Frankie Paul, NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” ﬁnalist, Carmen Vallone,

OCTOBER 22

AMERICA’S HITS ON PARADE Kick off the Lake-Sumter State College Performing Arts season by celebrat-

OCTOBER 27

BEAST FEAST Under the oaks of the historic Mote Morris House, this all- you- can- eat feast features a great variety of exotic and unusual meats along with sides, beverages, and live entertainment. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, the fun starts at 5:30 p.m. This event is presented by the Leesburg Center for the Arts. For more information, call 352.365.0232 or visit www.leesburgcenter4arts.com.

OCTOBER 28

HALLOWEEN BALL TO BENEFIT LSSC Join us on the dance ﬂoor and bust a move with music provided by DJ Rick Rojas while you enjoy festive hors d’oeuvres, delightful drinks, dancing, and cavorting along with a costume contest. Cost is

$50. It will be at Paquette’s Barn, 615 S. Whitney Road, Leesburg. For more information, call Erin O’Steen Lewin at 352.365.3506.

OCTOBER 29

THE LEESBURG SATURDAY MORNING MARKET BOO BASH The Saturday Morning Market shares Leesburg Towne Square with children of all ages having a smashing good time at the Boo Bash. No contestant is too young to parade across the stage for the Children’s Costume Contest. Other activities include a pumpkin decorating contest and other fun children’s activities. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To get details and applications for this fun event presented by the Leesburg Partnership, visit www.LeesburgSaturdayMorningMarket. com.

OCTOBER 29

CLERMONT HARVEST FESTIVAL Enjoy a fun-ﬁlled day in Historic Downtown Clermont for the 2nd Annual Harvest Festival. Browse more than 75 crafts, products, and cottage industry vendors and food trucks. There will be a kid’s zone with a petting farm, pony rides, and face paintings, and you don’t want to miss out on the Halloween costume parade! The festival is 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 685 West Montrose Street, Clermont.

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INCONCERT

Bands subject to change. Email inconcert@akersmediagroup.com to submit an event. Submissions must be received by the ninth of the month prior to month of the event (example: Oct. 9 for Nov. issue).

DATE

TIME

ARTIST

VENUE

10/1 10/1 10/1 10/2 10/2 10/2 10/3 10/4 10/5 10/5

5 p.m. 7 p.m. 9 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m.

Steel Horse Band Singing For Second Base Tommy & The Guns Bobby France David Vece Rick Melvern Band Kathleen Kane’s 007 Band Four Divo Four Divo Orlando Transit Authority

10/5 10/6 10/6 10/7 10/7 10/9 10/10 10/12 10/13 10/14 10/14 10/15 10/15 10/16 10/16 10/19 10/20 10/21 10/22 10/22 10/23 10/23 10/26 10/27 10/28 10/28 10/29 10/29 11/1

7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 8 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 9 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m. 7 p.m.

Jeff Whitfield Four Divo Donnie Lee Four Divo Defenders of Daisies Defenders of Daisies Villages Philharmonic Orchestra Jeff Whitfield Dangerous Dave Merrill TC & SASS Power Play Kings County Power Play Kelly Jarrard Defenders of Daisies Jeff Whitfield Donnie Lee The Missin’ Piston Band Rox Da Boys The Missin’ Piston Band Rox Dangerous Dave Merrill Defenders of Daisies Jeff Whitfield Kelly Jarrard The Accuzed Orion Kings County Orion Lina Eder

Spanish Springs Town Square, Savannah Center, The Villages Shamrock Lounge, Leesburg Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Lake Sumter Landing Square Brownwood Paddock Square Spanish Springs Town Square The Sharon, The Villages The Sharon, The Villages The Savannah Center, The Villages Ruby Street Grill, Tavares The Sharon, The Villages Ruby Street Grill, Tavares The Sharon, The Villages Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares The Villages Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Shamrock Lounge, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Shamrock Lounge, Leesburg Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Shamrock Lounge, Leesburg Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Shamrock Lounge, Leesburg Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Shamrock Lounge, Leesburg Ruby Street Grill, Tavares Shamrock Lounge, Leesburg The Sharon, The Villages

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Four Divo

Orion

The The The The

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On the scene // LOCAL TALENT

KIRK THOMAS SIMPSON & TATUM DONOVAN

THE HISTORIC STATE THEATRE IN EUSTIS KEEPS AN EYE ON THE FUTURE WITH THEIR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, THE YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE. STORY: DEBBI KIDDY PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ

he theatre was built in 1916. It’s home to the Bay Street Players, established in 1975 by a group of theatrical enthusiasts. One of their prized achievements is the Young People’s Theatre, which started in 1976 and is the longest continuous theater program of its kind in Central Florida. Kirk Thomas Simpson, 16, and Tatum Donovan, 17, are two talented actors who have been a part of it for many years. Kirk was introduced to theater at the age of 6 when his mother took him to “The Music Man.” He looked up at his mother and said, “I could do that!” Encouraged, she enrolled him in summer camp at YPT, and he auditioned for “Once on This Island Jr.” “I had it in my heart I was going to be the god of Death. My mom told me, ‘They’re probably not going to allow a six-year-old to play the God of Death.’ I ended up getting the God of Water. I’m very thankful to Amanda [Warren] for believing I could pull that off.” Tatum has also been acting since she was 6. “When I ﬁrst started auditioning, I used to get so nervous, but now it’s like second nature and I just go do it.”

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Tatum believes the theater is a worthwhile pursuit for young people. “It has taught me to be more conﬁdent in myself,” she says. “I know I can do something by myself. When I’m on stage I know it’s going to be OK. I feel this rush, like it’s where I’m supposed to be.” Kirk says he had to overcome some of challenges as he was growing up. “If you’re trying to sing and your voice keeps cracking, it’s tough, so between the ages of 12-14, you do a lot of talk-singing.” Tatum loves that working in the theater is different from anything else she does. “The theater is an amazing place, and I’ve met a lot of amazing people that I’m going to cherish forever,” she says. Kirk has no plans to stop anytime soon. “Whenever I get up on stage, everything else fades away. I can meld into whatever character I play, and anything else that happens in my life doesn’t matter,” he says. His thoughts about the Young People’s Theatre echo Tatum’s. “I love the people. I have more friends in the theater than I have anywhere else. I end up sitting through school thinking, I can’t wait until I get to go to theater.”

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On the scene // out+about A travel companion for points near and far

FAMILY-FRIENDLY

HOLIDAY RETREATS Do you go north or south for the holidays—as in south to the Florida Keys or north to the Florida Panhandle? Either direction is within a half-day’s drive of Central Florida, and you will ﬁnd family friendly options where everyone from children to grandchildren and maybe even an aunt or uncle will have fun. STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS PHOTOS: MARY ANN DESANTIS+PROVIDED

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our entire family wants to get together for the holidays this year. What are you going to feed all these people and where are they going to sleep? More importantly, how are you going to keep all the generations entertained? We’ve got holiday getaway suggestions to make everyone happy.

HAWKS CAY RESORT, FLORIDA KEYS Everything about this 60-acre resort on Duck Key near Marathon is about family. In fact, it’s so family oriented that my husband and his brother unexpectedly ran into their cousins in the lobby on a trip last spring. It seems those Atlanta cousins—along with their parents and children—have known for years that Hawks Cay is the place to gather for family getaways. Hawks Cay says even Santa Claus likes to rest in the Florida Keys before and after his big journey. Where else can he spend the cool months in shorts and flip-flops? If your family wants both warm weather and holiday spirit, then sun-drenched Duck Key could be the place. December weather in the Florida Keys averages a perfect 75 degrees. Watch the dolphins at the on-site “Dolphin Connection” or take a Segway tour around the island. In the evening, mom and dad can get away for a Christmas-inspired cocktail by one of the fire pits overlooking the Atlantic Ocean while Mrs. Claus reads a story to the little ones and Santa’s elves arrive for a “tuck-in.” Hawks Cay offers both large hotelsize guestrooms in the main building or two-and-three-bedroom villas, which have full-size kitchens. The villas also feature porches or balconies— great places for quiet family meals. If you don’t want to cook, there are several restaurants from a casual pizzeria that delivers to the fine-dining Alma restaurant near the main lobby. The new Angler and Ale restaurant at the Hawks Cay Marina offers fresh

Florida seafood or you can even bring in your own catch for the hook-andcook option. Since you’re in the middle of the Florida Keys, go off property to visit nearby sites. Only 12 miles from the resort is the Marathon Turtle Hospital, the world’s only state-certified veterinary hospital for sea turtles. This acclaimed attraction rescues and rehabilitates injured and sick turtles. A nonprofit corporation, the Marathon Turtle Hospital offers three tours daily but requires reservations. Drive just a half-mile farther south to Pigeon Key, one of Florida’s most historic islands. Chances are you have seen this tiny island lying in the shadow of the Seven-Mile Bridge and

wondered how people got there. They either hiked the rugged 2.5-mile remnant of the railroad trestle or they took the ferry from the Pigeon Key Visitors Center. The five-acre island also will look familiar to fans of the 1994 movie “True Lies” because it was used extensively during the filming of the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic. Even Santa knows spending the holidays in the Florida Keys creates special memories. Take advantage of the holiday specials now being offered at hawkscay.com.

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SANDESTIN BEACH AND GOLF RESORT, FLORIDA PANHANDLE Oh, what I would give to be a kid again and get to stay at the Hilton Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort where I could have my own bunk bed in a private alcove and go ice skating (even if the December temperatures average in the low 60s). Lucky for me, the Hilton Sandestin, the largest full-service resort (2,400 acres) on Florida’s Gulf Coast for 30plus years, offers quite a few amenities for adults, too. It’s a great holiday retreat because there are so many ways for families to reconnect and relax, including a nearby waterpark and zip-line facility. In addition to scrumptious holiday menus at on-site restaurants, the SunQuest SOLARIS yacht offers holiday dinner cruises. The SOLARIS conveniently docks at Sandestin’s Baytowne Wharf, a charming village filled to

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the brim with shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Baytowne Wharf is also the best place to enjoy a faux winter wonderland in the Sunshine State with its elaborate Christmas decorations and temporary ice skating rink. You won’t need a stocking cap and mittens as you would at New York’s Rockefeller Center, but in Sandestin you can play at the beach during the day and go ice skating at night. You can also work off holiday calories with paddleboarding, kayaking, golf, tennis, bicycling, and, of course, shopping. The resort is located near the Silver Sands Premium Outlets. And when it’s time to relax, enjoy the newly expanded Serenity by the Sea Spa, which has been recognized by both Condé Nast Traveler and USA Today. Parents who came here as children are now bringing their own kids to the property, which underwent a $30 million renovation last year. “I love the fact that you can park your car and never have to leave the property,” says Linda Keng of Jackson, Mississippi. She and her husband, Randy, have visited Sandestin more than 30 times over the past 20 years. “We particularly enjoy the off-season when crowds are smaller,” says Randy. “The beaches are the best, but our time on the beach is usually minimal because there are so many other things to do.” Holiday rates are available at hiltonsandestinbeach.com/bestfamily-resorts. ABOUT THE WRITER Mary Ann DeSantis has written features for Style publications since 2006. She was recognized with a first place Florida Press Club Excellence in Journalism Award for Travel Writing in 2012 and a second place Travel Writing Award in 2015.

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On the scene // social spotlight Where you want to be

LAKE’S NATURE SHOWCASE: WINGS AND WILDFLOWERS STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL PHOTOS: PROVIDED

he fifth annual Wings and Wildflowers Festival, slated for Oct. 14-16, at Venetian Gardens in Leesburg, will feature numerous activities, programs, vendors, and field trips for all ages to enjoy, along with wildlife, nature, and bird experts sharing their expertise. More than 5,000 people attended the 2015 festival, and this three-day event allows festivalgoers to become immersed in nature and learn about the county’s vast preserves, forests, and passive parklands that attract a wide array of birds, earning Lake County its claim as Florida’s premiere birding location.

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Lake County Parks and Trails Specialist Gallus Quigley says the best part of the festival is there’s something for everyone. “Whether you like wildflowers, butterflies, dragonflies or birds, the festival is simply about the outdoors. And for Lake County, it’s ‘Real Florida. Real Close,’” Gallus says, reflecting on the county’s theme. He will be among several speakers at the event, providing four programs and four field trips, including a Nocturnal Migration tour, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 14, at Green Mountain Scenic Overlook in Clermont. “If the weather cooperates, you can hear a lot of our migrating songbirds

flying overhead at night doing their flight calls,” Gallus says. “And if we have a full moon, we can actually watch them fly across the face of the moon, and that is awesome.” His favorite place for birding is the Ferndale Preserve in Clermont. “It’s one of the best places I know to find a lot of warblers; they are very small, colorful, tropical migrants,” he says. “Most of the birds that migrate are from the tropics, Central and South America.” The southern birds fly north for the summer, he says, noting October is a great month for birding in Lake County.

“Birding is big money, and bird watching is a big thing,” Gallus says. “It’s like the second biggest hobby in the U.S., and that includes people who travel for birding.” Gallus makes it clear he’s a birder, not a birdwatcher, and he compiles data on the number and birds he finds. He has documented more than 1,000 birds. He found 243 species in Lake County last year, and he recorded 359 birds throughout Florida in 2008. “I put 50,000 miles on my car chasing birds across the state,” he says of the 2008 trek. “And for my Lake County big year (2015), I probably put at least 6,000 miles on the car running around, and I don’t know how many miles I hiked.” Gallus is looking forward to sharing his passion with the festival crowd. “Obviously, I love birding, so the opportunity to get out and show my enthusiasm for what I love to do is a big part for me,” he says. The festival’s keynote speakers will be Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon Florida, and Janisse Ray, a naturalist and award-winning author. Both will be featured 6-8 p.m. Oct. 15, at Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora. With a professional staff of 60, Audubon Florida says its 1,700 volunteers, 30,000 members, and chapters in 44 communities conduct extensive field research, and it relies on residents to steward bird habitats throughout the state.

“Whether you like wildflowers, butterflies, dragonflies, or birds, the festival is simply about the outdoors…” — GALLUS QUIGLEY

Janisse’s most recent book, her sixth, is “The Seed Underground: A Growing Revolution to Save Food.” She lectures mostly on nature, community, and agriculture, and strives to live a simple, sustainable life on her family’s Georgia farm. The festival will also feature plant sales, a butterfly tent, and exhibitors specializing in tourism, nature activities, landscaping, gardening, irrigation, hardscapes, horticulture, nature photography, etc. Central Florida Zoo will allow for festivalgoers to get up close and personal with some animals they will be showing. Florida Wildflower Foundation will share wildflowers native to the area; and Lake Beautyberry Chap-

ter of Florida Native Plant Society, will promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of native plants. “The festival keeps growing and the interest keeps going,” says Yvonne Powers, co-coordinator of the Wings and Wildflowers Festival. “We hear from the vendors that they always want to come back, and we have had vendors here all five years.” One new festival attraction was a photo contest, which generated more than 100 entries of wildlife, flowers and birds photographed in Lake County that were sent in by the Aug. 1 deadline. The winning photos will be in the 2017 Wings and Wildflowers calendar. Since the first one five years ago, the festival is now attracting visitors beyond Lake County. “We draw people from all over the country, and we advertise in England’s Birdwatch magazine. We did that last year and had a great response,” Yvonne says. “It was not just to get people to the festival. We want to bring awareness to ‘Real Florida. Real Close,’ and to Lake County.” “We hear praise that the festival is educational, and that we do a lot of children’s programs that are free,” she says, recalling last year some anglers provided a free fishing program and gave away 150 fishing rods and reels. For the latest update on festival activities and field trips, visit wingsandwildflowers.com.

October 20 16

On the scene // Hi, society!

PIG ON THE POND FESTIVAL In addition to bounteous bar-b-que, attendees of the annual Pig-on-the-Pond festival in Clermont chowed down on bowls of hearty chili from the Chili Challenge and great macaroni and cheese in the Mac-n-Cheese Cook-0ff. Food and fun was enjoyed by all at Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola March 11-13. This festival enables education scholarships for local high school seniors, as well as more than 20 local nonproﬁt organizations to conduct fundraising efforts. DUSTIN AND JAMIE LOWE

SHARON COMBALNIK WITH MARIANA, BRIAN, AND TERESA WELKE LINDSAY FINKBEINER, LINDSAY WARREN, AND CASEY POLK

RACHEL HERNANDEZ, ELVIN RODRIGUEZ, KATELYN RODRIGUEZ, AND BRIAN WARDINGLY

STEFFI, MASON, ELLIE AND SAMUEL BEAN

MICHAEL FAGAN AND DEBBIE FAGAN WITH MICHELLE BOTTEX, CAROL CROWE, AND LYNETT & ISABELLA PEREZ

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On the scene // Hi, society!

AUL LAIZURE, JOSHUA HARRIS, ALAN RICHARDS, WENDY RICHARDS, KRISTEN BURGER, MATTHEW MABBITT, DEB OSBORNE AND JEN SMITH

IT IS AMAZING ! The Amazing Race for Charity once again left participants and

spectators goggling as they watched competitors do events like art and wheelchair races, running, swimming, stacking cans and a dog wash! It was an astonishing experience at times, but in the end, a number of charities won out!

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On the scene // Hi, society!

FUN, FIT, AND FAMILY! The Leesburg Regional Medical Center sponsored a “Family

Fitness & Fun Day” on Saturday, June 4 at the LRMC Urgent Care Center. The event included a ribbon cutting for the revamped walking track and new fitness stations. Vendors were on hard for healthy snacks, free demonstrations of how to use fitness equipment were presented along with music, giveaways, and more! PENNY TESTERMAN

ELLEN BARBRA JAMIE TIDWELL, BEGAN AND BLAKETHOMPSON MERRILL AND PETE CRAFT

ANNA AND STEVEJULI ZITNICK WITHAND MEL JOANN HOLLAND, JANE STROPES JANICE COLLINS, ROMERO, TAYLOR LEEPER HORBAL AND GENEVIEVE MATOS AND MARY RHODES AUDREY PORTANOVA DAVID LEEPER III

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LT. WOODY STRAUB, MARC MATHIS, AND BRETT ROBERTS

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Clermont & Mount Dora October 20 16

On the scene // Hi, society!

SUITS TO A TEE!

The 12th annual Miss Leesburg Scholarship Scramble was at Arlington Ridge Golf Course on May 7. Following the shotgun start at 8:15 a.m., the day was filled with fun, awards, prizes, and raffles. Everybody went a home a winner as the event collected funds for the Miss Leesburg Scholarship program. This year’s Miss Leesburg Pageant will be Sept 24 at Leesburg High School JIM SHARER

PHOTOS: RON VANDEVANDER

KEVIN AND JACKSON PIZZUTI WITH GREGG MANCINI AND JIM REYNOLDS

KYLE FLEMING, JARRAD CAWLEY, AND DAVID MASS

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JIM SAFFORD AND JIM BOLIEK

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eats QUICK BITES IN THE KITCHEN SALUTE FORK ON THE ROAD DINING GUIDE

October 20 16

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EATS // QUICK BITES Bits and Bites of Food in the News

IN A PICKLE

ALL ABOARD! With breakfast choices like the Conductor, Engineer, and Hobo, you won’t have to be “railroaded” into enjoying a great morning at the Breakfast Station #8. In addition to scrumptious omelets, sausage gravy, and French toast, the Breakfast Station’s menu includes luncheon choices such as Pressed Tortillas, Cattle Car Burgers, Sante Fe Salad, and The Depot Melt Sandwich. Located at 2229 N. Citrus Blvd, Leesburg, the Breakfast Station is chugging down the tracks every day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check it out at thebreakfaststation. com.

Just off County Road 44A at the intersection of Radio Road is The Pickle Barrel General Store and Café, Inc. The menu is limited to sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs, but the food is good, and the atmosphere is entertaining. The café is on one end of the building and antiques are displayed in the other end. If you look closely, you’ll see dollar bills sticking out of random items on display. “That mon-

ey is from a Vietnam vet who comes in occasionally,” says owner Kathy Lokey. “He leaves the money around to bring me good luck, and I really think it does.” Kathy calls herself a “picker,” but she’s ﬁnding she enjoys running the café just as much. “We have karaoke on Thursday nights and Bike Night every other Wednesday.” She serves beer and wine, and bikers, of course, are welcome.

Celebrate Oktoberfest Inside a two-story German-style structure at 8210 County Road 48 is the Yalaha Bakery, where scrumptious breads, pastries, cookies, pies, and cakes await. Made daily with organic ﬂours, spices, chocolates, and butter, it makes it difﬁcult to decide which Danish, pastry, torte, or other treats you want to savor from the mouth-watering array. Yalaha Bakery also serves authentic German deli specialties for lunch, accompanied by a variety of beers, just right to celebrate Oktoberfest. Call 352.324.3366 or order online at yalahbakery.com.

Dining out in your own home Don’t want to cook tonight, but tired of the same old Chinese or pizza takeout? Takeout Waiter now serves Lake County. Just go to takeoutwaiter.com and click on North Lake County. Put the time you wish to eat, the delivery address, and then click to view restaurants and see menus. Choose your meal and provide any special requirements or requests. There’s a $20 minimum for local orders and a $30 minimum for orders outside the city. Deliveries are made 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 352.272.7576.

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CRANBERRY SALAD REIGNS

The Southern Chicken Salad Plate is the most popular menu item at Southern Gourmet Café, in Leesburg, where diners rave over the colorful presentation and tasty chicken salad served with pasta salad, fresh veggies, cheese, crackers, and delicious cranberry congealed salad—proving cranberry salad isn’t just for Thanksgiving. “It’s our signature item; we make it fresh every day,” says Sandy Maddox, who co-owns the café with her husband and son. The cranberry salad (and other items) can be ordered in pint and quart containers to take home. Sandy says the café appreciates 24 hours’ notice by calling 352.409.7512.

Sad to see you go Coast 2 Coast Seafood & Smokehouse has closed its doors. We’re always sorry to see one of our favorite little “hole in the walls” go away!

NO FAUX PHO

The fabulous Vietnamese soup is served at the Saigon Fusion in Mount Dora. Get Pho Saigon (Saigon Noodle Soup), Pho Ga (Chicken Noodle Soup), or Pho Tai (Beef Noodle Soup). The restaurant also serves an intense variety of sushi—Sashimi, hand rolls, regular rolls, vegetables rolls, tempura rolls, and special rolls! Stop by and check out the chef’s combinations as well as the Japanese Hibachi. Saigon Fusion is also open to suggested food items. Check out saigonfusionmountdora.com.

Halloween candy time!

October means Halloween, and the National Confectioners Association predict Americans will spend about $2.6 billion on the October holiday, which falls on a school-night Monday this month. So… what is the most popular Halloween candy? Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup is America’s favorite Halloween candy, according to Inﬂuenster, an online platform. The yummy chocolate-covered peanut butter cups received the most votes in a nationwide poll. Kit Kat and Butterﬁnger also were ranked popular in all 50 states and Washington D.C., while candy corn was listed as the most polarizing in dividing the nation. The 2015 poll also broke down state-by-state Halloween candy favorites, and Floridians’ top pick was the Nestle Crunch Bar as No. 1.

They’re Just Ribbing You Backwoods Smokehouse now occupies 18750 U.S. Highway 441, which should make everyone feel right at home. It’s the previous location of Black Bear Smokehouse. They’re known for their fabulous ribs and great entertainment. Check it out soon!

October 20 16

EATS // in the kitchen Out of the frying pan and onto the page

THE BEAUTY OF

CORN ON THE COB Sweet corn, open-air café, maze, and more opens Long & Scott Farm’s fall season STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ

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cott’s Zellwood Triple-Sweet Gourmet Corn is the star produce at Long & Scott Farm, which draws folks from across the country, overseas, and even a Japanese farmer’s group that makes an annual U.S. stop in Mount Dora for some freshly picked and irresistibly tender, sweet corn on the cob. Yes, the corn is that amazingly good. And when it’s gently cooked to perfection, the hot, buttery corn has that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that makes chefs and food writers swoon. Several of Orlando’s upscale restaurants proudly list the corn on their menus by its trademark name. “People always say this is the best corn they’ve ever had,” says Hank Scott, 60, a third-generation farmer and manager of the farm. His children, Sonny and Haley, are part of the fourth generation of the family’s farming tradition.

“The best thing to watch is when somebody from Indiana or New Jersey comes in and says, “You can’t beat our corn; we have the best corn at home ever,’” says Hank’s sister, Rebecca Scott Ryan, who can’t resist shucking a corn cob for ﬁrst-timers to taste. “ They eat it raw and their whole face changes, and that’s the best thing,” she says. “The corn is good. I’ve been known to eat six ears for dinner and that’s it.” Several chefs from Disney’s restaurants make trips to Long & Scott’s Farm for the corn and other produce, and Celebrity Chef Art Smith, recognizable for appearing on “Iron Chef America,” “Top Chef,” and “Top Chef America,” and his years as Oprah’s chef, wanted a portrait from the farm to hang on the wall of his new new restaurant, Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine restaurant at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.

The photo shows Hank and his father, Frank, on an old red tractor out in the cornfields, and for Chef Smith, the portrait exemplifies his mission to provide farm-to-fork cuisine. Frank and his childhood friend, Billy Long, started the farm on 100 acres in 1963. Through the years, it has expanded to more than 1,200 acres in Mount Dora and neighboring fields in Zellwood, where the farm grows its sweet corn, cucumbers, red and green cabbage, sweet onions, kale, and other produce. Zellwood had been known as the corn capital for years, home of the Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival that began in 1968, and Hank says his family didn’t want to lose the Zellwood name. “So we trademarked the name, and we decided to grow a gourmet-type corn, a really, really sweet and tender corn that’s even better,” Hank says. The good news for Lake County residents and visitors is that they can

October 20 16

EATS // in the kitchen Out of the frying pan and onto the page

SCOTT’S ZELLWOOD SWEET CORN CHOWDER Ingredients: 4 slices bacon, diced small ½ cup diced onion ½ cup diced red pepper 2 cups Scott’s sweet corn, cut from the cob, (reserve cobs for additional flavor when soup cooks!) 3 tablespoons flour 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock 1 cup medium diced russet potatoes 1 cup heavy cream Coarse ground salt and pepper 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley Directions: Cook bacon until crisp, add onion, peppers and corn, stirring for 2 minutes. Add flour, stirring 1 minute. Add stock and stir until smooth. Bring to boil, and add potatoes and the corn cobs. Simmer 25-30 minutes, or until chowder reaches desired consistency. Removed corn cobs, add cream, and simmer 2 minutes. Season to taste with parsley, salt and pepper. Serves 6.

get the corn now—Long & Scott Farm is open for the fall season. The farm is also open for some family-friendly fun, where all ages can go on a wagon tour on the Sweet Corn Express, maneuver around Scott’s Maze Adventure—a 7-acre cornfield maze, and there’s a new playground area for kids to enjoy. The Country Market and Country Café, an open-air eatery, are popular sites to visit, too, where the farm’s signature dish, Zellwood Sweet Corn Chowder is on the menu. The chowder recipe, which is being provided for Style readers, is made from the farm’s sweet corn, potatoes, onions, red pepper, and bacon served with a corn muffin. The café also offers a variety of sandwiches, including: pulled pork with tangy barbecue sauce; Farmer’s Club of roasted turkey breast, baked ham, bacon, lettuce and tomato on a flaky croissant; Buffalo Chicken Wrap of grilled chicken toasted in the farm’s buffalo hot wing sauce, greens, tomato, shredded cheese and homemade ranch; and a Veggie Wrap of green peppers, cucumber, tomato, carrots, red cabbage and the farm’s sweet onion and creamy cucumber dressing. Also at the café, one can get an oldfashioned root beer float, or Hank’s favorite strawberry milkshake. Breakfast fare is available, too, with cheese grits, croissant sandwiches, and biscuits and gravy on the menu. “This is kind of a neat place to eat,” says Hank. “As an open-air café, people can look out and see the fields, and they can look over here and see us running the pickles or bringing the corn in.” The farm activities and café are part of agri-tourism, or agri-entertainment events that many farmers are doing across the country to bring people to their farms. “We have been averaging about 30,000 people in a 2½ month period,” says Hank. “It’s about 4 percent of our

gross. It’s not a heck of a lot of money, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun to watch families get off the hay wagon and say that it’s the best family outing they have ever had.” Some families return every fall, and there have been school groups from Winter Park and Maitland who have been visiting the farm for 10 consecutive years. “It gives kids a chance to get away from computers, video games, TV, and get outside,” Hank says. “They come out here and have a ball all day long. There’s plenty to eat, and plenty to do.” The best part for Hank is making the farm trip educational. “It’s like ag in the classroom, but out of the classroom. Kids learn better when it’s hands-on and visual over looking at a book,” Hank says. “We teach people that their groceries are grown in the ﬁeld, and not in the back of Publix or Winn Dixie.” Rebecca adds, “We’ve even had parents who did not know how corn is grown. We’ve opened some eyes for adults.” The farm will remain open through Dec. 11 for the fall season, and during the weekend of Thanksgiving, Santa Claus will visit along with a big selection of Fraser Fir Christmas trees that will be available for purchase. “Farming is a tough business,” says Hank, adding Long & Scott Farm is the livelihood for 30 families, so that’s a vital incentive to stay in business and keep the farm going. “The joy of it all is knowing that you’re feeding so many people, and watching that little seed grow to food that you can take home and feed your family nutritious meals.”

Long & Scott Farm 26216 County Road 448A, Mount Dora 352.383.6900 www.longandscottfarms.com

GOLDEN CORN FRY Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter 3 cups corn, cut from cob ½ cup diced sweet onion ½ cup light cream 2 tablespoons chopped chives 1 clove garlic, minced ½ teaspoons salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Directions: Melt butter in skillet. Add onions, followed by remaining ingredients, except cheese. Cover and simmer until corn is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Makes 5 to 6 servings.

October 20 16

EATS // saluté A Worldly Look at Wine & Spirits

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his past summer, New World and Old World winemakers faced off during a masterclass at the 6th Annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. French and Portuguese wines represented Europe—the Old World—while California and Australian wines were the upstart New World wines. The grape varietals compared were the same, but the taste and ﬂavors could not have been more different…and I just could not choose a favorite. Fast-forward to a few weeks ago, when I took a quiz to see which style— Old World or New World—I liked best. My results were just as mixed as my preferences at the Atlanta festival. According to the quiz, designed by Malpus.com, I don’t have an established preference between New World or Old World wines. The quiz results nailed it when it came to describing me: “You don’t chose a favorite…one day you may sip a fruity, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with high alcohol content; the next day you enjoy a light-bodied and earthy Bordeaux blend with lowalcohol content.” And so it goes with wines made from the blackest of grapes—Malbec. I cannot decide whether an Old World Malbec from Cahors, France, is my favorite or if I should serve a New World Malbec from Argentina with grilled steak. After all, Argentina is known for its beef, too. Yet, France produces the creamy cheeses and rich sauces that call for the earthy, softer tannins of its Cahors Malbec blends. Many people—even wine lovers—do not know Malbec originated in France. However, it is now Argentina that produces more than 70 percent of the Malbecs sold in the U.S., so I should not have been surprised when a young wine store clerk told me there was no such thing as a French Malbec. A little history lesson about this varietal once revered by kings and popes is in order. Roman emperors planted the ﬁrst vineyards in South-

west France more than two thousand years ago. Cahors wines became some of the most sought after in the world, especially among Russian Tsars after Peter the Great claimed the tannins cured his ulcer and settled his delicate stomach. The 1850s were the most prosperous for Cahors wines, but that all ended in 1865 when American plants were imported and spread the parasitic bug known as phylloxera. By 1880, more than 143,000 acres of vineyards were devastated. A handful of cuttings from the pre-philloxera vines were saved, and some of those old vines are now found at the respected Clos de Gamot estate. Today, only about 12,000 acres of Cahors vineyards remain. The grape, commonly known as Côt in Cahors, is more rustic than its Malbec cousins in Argentina and is often blended with Merlot to smooth out the ﬂavors. However, for a wine to be labeled AOC, which is the French certiﬁcation granted to certain geographical locations for wine, cheeses and other agricultural products, the Cahors red wines must contain at least 70 percent Malbec grapes.

INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW WORLD In the mid-19th century, just as Malbec acreage was declining in France, Argentina’s government hired French agronomist Michel A. Pouget to bring cuttings to the South American country. The grapes adapted extremely well to Argentina’s varied terroir, and today there are 77,000 acres of Malbec vineyards—with 85 percent of those located in the Mendoza region, according to WinesofArgentina.org. The darkest of all wines, Malbecs from both the Old World and New World share an intense dark purple color. The ﬂavors should evoke cherries, strawberries, or plums, and as it ages more aromas of coffee or vanilla are apparent. Speaking of aging, young unoaked Malbecs should be consumed quickly. Malbecs that have

been aged in oak can be held two or three years. French Malbecs with lots of tannins can age well in the bottle for years. In fact, when I recently bought a 2013 vintage from Cahors, the wine shop recommended I hold on to it a few years. Alas, I really wanted to compare the hard-to-find Cahors side-by-side to a Malbec from Argentina. In all honesty, Malbecs have not been my favorite go-to wine, so I was anxious to see if I fared any better with French Malbec. My New World choice was a 2011 Nacional No. 7 from Mendoza while the Old World was represented by the 2013 Clos La Coutale, one of France’s leading producers of Cahors. Both wines sold for under $15. The French wine was subtle and refined while the Argentinean varietal had spicy, intense flavors with a more tannic burn. It was hard to believe they were both produced from the same grape varietal. The experiment brought me back to the choice between Old World or New World. And the answer was the same: it depends on the food…my mood… and whether or not the background music is a smooth French ballad or a lively Tango.

ABOUT THE WRITER Mary Ann DeSantis is a 2016 fellow of the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, Napa Valley. An award-winning journalist, she has written for Lake & Sumter Style since 2006.

October 20 16

EATS // fork on THE Road Tasty insights and observations

EDUARDO’S LOKOS TACOS

CRAZY DELICIOUS MEXICAN FOOD STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ

Craving authentic Mexican cuisine? Then Eduardo’s Lokos Tacos in Tavares is a “must-go” place to enjoy generous servings of fresh entrées in a festive atmosphere that makes dining a pleasant experience. We began our Saturday evening dinner with a basket of warm, homemade tortilla chips with fresh, roasted salsa and perused the many menu choices. Our server Eddie said two favorites of many diners are Kekas—two tortillas fried with cheese and ﬁlled with choice of meat, lettuce, sour cream, and Mexican cheese crumbles.

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The Lokos Tacos—two tortillas with cheese in the middle, topped with choice of meat, onions, and cilantro. We settled on ordering pork Lokos Tacos and the build-your-own-platter combination of a beef enchilada and a mini chicken burrito (yet there was nothing “mini” about it!) Both entrees came hot with fresh sides of rice and homemade refried beans. We were not disappointed. The pork was tender and delicious in the

CUBA PICHY’S CUISINE

LIKE DINING IN HAVANA STORY: DEBBI KIDDY PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ

If you’re in the mood for authentic, quality Cuban cuisine, then Cuba Pichy’s Cuisine, located in ViaPort Florida Mall in Leesburg, is just what you’re looking for. Named for

deep-fried tortillas complemented by the melted cheese layer. The rice and pinto beans were cooked to perfection. My stepmother and I loved the fresh ingredients in the salsa and in our entrees, and were impressed by the budgetfriendly prices. Eduardo’s also has great weekday specials that are hard to beat: Tamale Mondays, featuring two tamales (chicken in green salsa or pork in red salsa) for $3, with the same price and ingredient choices for Enchilada Wednesdays. Taco Tuesdays and Thursdays provide diners with a

variety of four tacos for $4, with a choice of meat in corn, flour, or crispy tortillas, and five flautas are offered on Fridays for $6, in either chicken or pork topped with avocado slices. They also have a kid’s menu so the whole family can enjoy. We’re looking forward to going back to Eduardo’s, but next time we’re going to save room for dessert—Deep Fried Ice Cream, Flan, Churros, ChocoFlan (a blend of cake and Flan), and Raspados (Mexican shaved ice made with homemade syrup and real fruit) are on the menu.

4 FORKS (OUT OF POSSIBLE 5) EDUARDO’S LOKOS TACOS 226 W. Alfred St., Tavares 352.742.1181

FORK REPORT: Casual dining. $$/Seated immediately (dinner hour)//Wait for meal: 15 minutes OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY STARTERS ($3-$10.50) Asada Fries, wings, Chicharron, Chilaquiles, Tortilla Soup, Posole, Picadillo, shrimp cocktail, and salads. ENTREES: ($8.50-$23) Lokos Tacos, Kekas, Burrito Grande, Grande Chimichanga, Gorditas, Chilles Rellenos, Enchiladas, variety of fajitas. HOW FORK ON THE ROAD WORKS

Our reviewers are objective and unbiased. This is not a paid feature. Our reviewer makes one unannounced visit and we pay for our meals.

its owner, the restaurant features a beautiful polished wood bar as you walk in. We were greeted warmly and there was no wait for our table. The server came quickly for drink orders as we enjoyed Latin music and the seascapes and other Cuban-related artwork. There’s a banquet room that can accommodate up to 40 people, and, as an added bonus, the chef will create a specialty menu just for your group. The menu includes favorite Cuban cuisine items such as black beans, rice, and plantains, but there were also some creative treats. We ordered appetizers—Cuba’s Gran Combo offered a variety of yummy items including masitas fritas, chicharrones de pollo, ham-croquets, and sweet plantains; and beef empanadas filled with spicy, flavorful ground beef encased in a delicious, flaky baked pastry. While we waited for our starters, we

October 20 16

EATS // fork on THE Road Tasty insights and observations

THE LOST PARROT had thin slices of Cuban bread with just the right hint of garlic. I ordered one of the three daily specials, which was baked chicken with black beans and choice of white or yellow rice and sweet plantains. The baked chicken was marinated in Pichy’s famous sauce to fall-offthe-bone tenderness and tastefully seasoned; the black beans had bits of onion and just a touch of cilantro; the yellow rice was light and ﬂuffy; and the plantains were slightly caramelized to sweet perfection! Other entrées include beef, pork, seafood, and chicken options, and there’s a kid’s menu. My co-workers ordered from the lunch menu, which contains a variety of dishes, and everyone agreed the food was scrumptious. Among the dishes they tried was the OMG Sandwich, which consists of smoked turkey breast, Swiss cheese, a Spinach-artichoke spread, Pichy’s sweet honey mustard dressing, and sautéed onions on authentic pressed Cuban bread. Add seasoned French fries and you are in Cuban heaven! Cuba Pichy’s is truly an “upscale,” but affordable establishment to enjoy authentic Cuban cuisine.

CUBA PICHY’S CUISINE ViaPort Florida 10401 U.S. Hwy. 441, Leesburg 352.365.2822

A PINCH OF CARIBBEAN FLAIR STORY: LEIGH NEELY PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ

At The Lost Parrot Bar & Grill, you can expect good American food served with a pinch of Caribbean flair. The legend of the lost parrot is almost as entertaining as the lively restaurant on 4th Avenue in Mount Dora. The family raised tropical birds, and their aviary became well known for the amazing parrots they kept. However, sorrow descended when Paco de Garcia, the most famous bird, was stolen. Though the family searched, they couldn’t find their beloved parrot. Paco found his way back to them and in celebration, The Lost Parrot Bar & Grill was opened in his honor, with parrots everywhere—in vivid paintings, delicate figurines, and even a paper one hanging from the ceiling. Our meal began with warm tortilla chips and homemade salsa. My husband ordered the Reuben sandwich, which was huge, and perfectly prepared as were the crunchy onion rings served with the tiger sauce. The thinly sliced pastrami was tender and juicy and grilled rye bread was the perfect complement.

I opted for the coconut shrimp. My platter had ﬁve golden shrimp in a light batter with coconut and a tangy pineapple pina colada dipping sauce. It included fresh broccoli and a twicebaked potato with sour cream. We both enjoyed our meals and took half of them home, so we had room for the creamy homemade French silk pie made richer with fresh whipped cream. The restaurant features indoor and covered patio seating and has great event nights like Tuesday’s Martinis and Smooth Jazz and Wednesdays are a mix of live music and Jam Night. The restaurant is a great family place with a kid’s menu and a relaxed atmosphere with attentive staff. There’s a full bar with amazing tropical drinks and luscious martinis.

THE LOST PARROT BAR & GRILL 100 East 4th Avenue, Mount Dora 352.729.2685 www.thelostparrotmtdora.com

TWO LOST JOBS ALMOST COST A LIFE CARE FUNDED BY THE NORTH LAKE COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT HELPED SEAN AND TAMMY RICE GET BACK ON THEIR FEET “No one wants to lose their job, but that’s exactly what happened to us. After working for the same company for 20 years, I laid myself off to help save the company. Then my husband Sean was also laid off. We lost both our income and our health insurance. Many folks in Lake County are casualties of the economy like us. “Community clinics funded by the North Lake County Hospital District kept Sean’s medical conditions from getting worse. If he hadn’t gotten care, it could have been fatal. “Now Sean is working again. The clinics make it possible for our neighbors in need to get back to work by providing the care they GHVSHUDWHO\ QHHG GXULQJ GLIƓFXOW WLPHV Ő THE NORTH LAKE COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT

EFFECTIVE

ACCOUNTABLE

EFFICIENT

LeesburgRegional.org/Cares

SPONSORED BY LEESBURG REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

dining Coyote Rojo 2082 W. CR 48 352.569.0302 $$

Napolis Pizzeria 556 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.243.7500 $$

Howie’s Family Restaurant 840 N. Main St. 352.793.8582 $

Robata Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar 1500 Oakley Seaver Dr. 352.404.9688 $$

TJ’s Family Restaurant 412 W. Belt Ave 352.793.8877 $$ Wafﬂe House 2571 W CR 48 352.793.5656 $ Waller’s Restaurant 138 Bushnell Plaza 352.793.2592 $

Clermont

Astatula

Akina Sushi Bar & Asian Fusion Bistro 4300 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.243.8988 $$$

Race Car Diner 25641 Monroe St. 352.253.6940 $

Calabria Ristorante 13900 County Road 455 407.656.5144 $$

Sparky’s Place 24646 State Road 40 352.759.3551 $$

Lyn’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shoppe 824 W. Montrose St. 352.536.9935 $

Hong Kong Restaurants 2229 W CR 48 (352) 568-888 $$

Sonny’s Bar-B-Q 2684 W. CR 48 352.569.0200 $

Astor

IN YOUR CITY

Cheeser’s Palace 707 W. Montrose St. 352.404.9431 $

Bushnell

Flippers Pizzeria 2523 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.242.2214 $$

Beef O’Bradys 2586 W. CR 48 352.568.7000 $

G’s NY Pizza 12346 Roper Blvd. 352.243.8900 $$$

Chuck’s Odd Cuples Café 117 W Belt Ave 352.568.0408 $

Green Garden 1790 E. Hwy. 50 352.243.2077 $$ Legends Grille & Tavern 1700 Legendary Blvd. 352.242.1910 $$$

Sanctuary Ridge Golf Club Restaurant 2601 Diamond Club Dr. 352.243.0411 $$ Spiro’s Pizza 1203 W. Hwy. 50 352.394.5538 $$ Sugar Mama’s Bake Shoppe 648 Eighth St. 352.241.9738 $$ Troy’s Cuban & Deli 1200 Oakley Seaver Dr. 352.241.4295 $$

Eustis 1884 Restaurant & Bar 12 East Magnolia Ave. 1.800.856.1884 $$ Barnwood BBQ 50 W. Orange Ave. 352.630.4903 $$ Beach Bums 12 S. Bay St. 352.308.8504 $ Dam Smoker Barbeque 36721 County Road 19A 352.357.6555 $$ Kiku Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar 15211 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.483.8288 $$$ King’s Taste Bar-B-Que 503 Palmetto St. 352.589.0404 $$

$: $5 – $14 $$: $15 – $24 $$$: $25 – $40 $$$$: $40+

Maria’s Latin Dinner 1 N. Eustis St. 352.357.5555 $ NightOwl Caribbean Restaurant 929 S. Bay St. 352.589.0256 $ Stavro’s & Sons of Eustis 2100 W. County Road 44 352.589.9100 $$ Taki’s Pizza House 2824 S. Bay St. 352.357.0022 $$ Thai Sushi America 925 N. Bay St. 352.357.1949 $$ The Crazy Gator 402 N. Bay St. 352.589.5885 $$ The Great Pizza Company 23 E. Magnolia Ave. 352.357.7377 $$ The Oyster Troff 936 N. Bay St. 352.357.9939 $$$ Tony’s Pizza & Subs 2760 E. Orange Ave. 352.589.9001 $$

Fruitland Park Fruitland Park Café 3180 US Hwy. 441/27 352.435.4575 $ Legends Cafe 2468 U.S. Hwy. 441/27 Fruitland Park 352.728.0006 $$

Groveland Red Wing Restaurant 12500 S. State Road 33 352.429.2997 $$$

Howey-inthe-Hills JB Boondocks Bar & Grill 704 S. Lakeshore Blvd. 352.324.3600 $$ Mission Inn Resort & Club’s El Conquistador 10400 County Rd. 48 352.324.3101 $$$$ Mission Inn Resort & Club’s Nickers 10400 County Rd. 48 352.324.3101 $$$$

Lady Lake Harbor Hills Country Club 6538 Lake Grifﬁn Rd. 352.753.7000 $$$ Mom & Dad’s Italian Restaurant 504 S. U.S. Hwy. 441/27 352.753.2722 $$ Texas Stockyard BBQ 360 S. U.S. Hwy. 441 352.750.5229 $$

Leesburg Bloom’s Baking House and Restaurant 610 W. Main St. 352.787.1004 $$ Cousin Vinnie’s Family Sports Restaurant 10700 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.253.2442 $ Cedar River Seafood 8609 S. U.S. Hwy. 441 352.728.3377 $$ Gator Bay Bar & Grill 10320 County Road 44 352.365.2177 $$ Habaneros 3 Mexican Restaurant 10601 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.315.1777 $$

Kid’s Menu

Beer, Wine or Cocktails

HP Grill 1403 S. 14th St. 352.314.0006 $

Lil Anthony’s Pizza 205 N. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.394.1516 $$

Kountry Kitchen 1008 W. Dixie Ave. 352.323.0852 $

Tiki Bar & Grill 508 S. Main Ave. 352.394.2232 $$

Lilly’s Super Subs 2339 County Road 473 352.343.4663 $ Magnolia’s Oyster Bar 201 W. Magnolia St. 352.323.0093 $$ Naples Italian Restaurant 1107 W. North Blvd. 352.323.1616 $$ Osaka 1401 Citrus Blvd. 352.728.0788 $$ Stavros Pizza 755 N. 14th St. 352.326.4202 $$ Takis Pizza Restaurant 1205 N. 14th St. 352.787.2344 $$ The Florida Porch Café 706 W. Main St. 352.365.1717 $$ The Latin Cafe 400 N. 14th St. 352.365.0089 $$ Two Old Hags Wine Shoppe 410 W Main St 352.435.9107 $$ Vic’s Catering 352.728.8989 $$$$

Mascotte Rainbow Restaurant 704 E. Myers Blvd. 352.429.2093 $$

Minneola

Mount Dora Anthony’s Pizza 17195 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.357.6668 $ Beauclaire Restaurant at Lakeside Inn 100 N. Alexander St. 352.383.4101 $$$ Blackbear Smokehouse 18750 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.2327 $$ Bocce Pizzeria 925 E. First Ave. 352.385.0067 $ Cecile’s French Corner 237 W. Fourth Ave. 352.383.7100 $$ Cody’s on 4th Cafe 111 E. 4th Ave. 352.735.8426 $ Copacabana Cuban Cafe 320 Dora Drawdy Way 352.385.9000 $$ Cupcake Delights 122 E. 4th Ave. 352.383.2200 $ Highland Street Café 185 S. Highland St. 352.383.1446 $ Incredible Edible Cakes 4295 W. Old Hwy. 441, Suite 2 352.223.3581 $ Ivory’s Take Out 1325 N. Grandview St. 352.735.6797 $

Jack’s Barbecue 100 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.394.2673 $

CONTINUED

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EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

dining Jeremiah’s 500 N. Highland St. 352.383.7444 $

Village Coffee Pot 425 Donnelly St. 352.383.3334 $

Mount Dora Pizza & Subs 2718 W. Old U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.5303

Zellie’s Pub 4025 N. U.S. Hwy. 19A 352.483.3855 $$

Sorrento

$ One Flight Up - Coffee, Dessert & Wine Bar 440 N. Donnelly St., Suite 100 352.758.9818 $ Pisces Rising 239 W. Fourth Ave. 352.385.2669 $$$ PizzAmore’ 722 E. 5th Ave. 352.383.0092 $ Sidelines Sport Eatery 315 N. Highland St. 352.735.7433 $ Sugarboo’s Bar-B-Que 1305 N. Grandview St. 352.735.7675 $ The Frog and Monkey Pub 411 N. Donnelly St. 352.383.1936 $$ The Garden Gate Tea Room 142 E. Fourth Ave. 352.735.2158 $$ The Goblin Market 331-B Donnely St. 352.735.0059 $$$ The Health Basket of Mount Dora 18834 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.735.1166 $$ The Windsor Rose English Tea Room 142 W. Fourth Ave. 352.735.2551 $$

1 04

Del Franco Pizza Place 31436 County Rd. 437 352.383.8882 $ Gi Gi’s 25444 State Road 46 352.735.4000 $$

Summerfield Francesco’s Italian Ristorante and Stone Fire Pizza 16770 South U.S. Hwy. 441 352.693.2008 $$

Tavares Angelo’s Italian Restaurant 2270 Vindale Rd. 352.343.2757 $$ Buzzard Beach Grill 12423 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.253.5267 $$ Casa Mia Cafe 505 W Main St 352.742.9940 $ Hurricane Dockside Grill 3351 W. Burleigh Blvd. 352.508.5137 $$ Lake Dora Sushi & Sake 227 E. Main St. 352.343.6313 $$ Mary’s Kountry Kitchen 15945 County Road 448 352.343.6823 $

I l akeandsumter

IN YOUR CITY

O’Keefe’s Irish Pub and Restaurant 115 S Rockingham Ave. 352.343.2157 $$

$: $5 – $14 $$: $15 – $24 $$$: $25 – $40 $$$$: $40+

Kid’s Menu

Carrabba’s 650 U.S. Hwy. 441 N 352.430.1304 $$

NYPD Pizzeria 4046 Wedgwood Ln 352.750.1994 $$

China Jade 420 W. CR 44 352.330.5913 $

Ruby Street Grille 221 E. Ruby St. 352.742.7829 $$

Chengs Chinese and Sushi Restaurant 4050 Wedgewood Ln. 352.391.9678 $$

Outback Steakhouse 710 N. Hwy 441 352.430.2590 $$

Cotillion Southern Café 101 N. Main St. 352.748.1223 $$

Sinbad’s of Lake County 1050 W. Burleigh Blvd. 352.343.6669 $$

China Gourmet III 343 Colony Blvd 352.750.4965 $

Palmer Legends Country Club 1635 Palmer Way 352.391.9939 $$

O’Shucks! Oyster Bar and Grill 1016 S Main St. 352.399.2200 $$

Sunrise Grill 462 E. Burleigh Blvd. 352.343.7744 $

City Fire Brownwood Paddock Square 352.561.2078 $$

RedSauce 1000 Canal St. 352.750.2930 $$

Polly’s Pantry 819 S. Main St. 352.330.4002 $$

The Hideaway 11912 Lane Park Rd. 352.343.3585 $$

Olive Garden 3680 Wedgewood Ln. 352.259.0304 $$

Sakura 265 Colony Blvd 352.205.7393 $$

Traditions Café 3107 Hwy. 44 352.748.1077 $$

Zac’s Pressed for Time Cafe 110 S. New Hampshire Ave. 352.253.4663 $

Evans Prairie Country Club 1825 Evans Prairie Trail 352.750.2225 $$

Scooples 2718 Brownwood Blvd 352.750.6263 $

Woody’s Bar-B-Q 1220 S. Main St. 352.748.1109 $$

Umatilla Old Crow Real Pit Bar-B-Q 41100 State Road 19 352.669.3922 $ The Mason Jar 37534 State Rd. 19 352.589.2535 $$

The Villages Bob Evans 2199 Parr Dr. 352.259.1224 $ Bonefish Grill 3580 Wedgewood Ln. 352.674.9292 $$ Bonifay Country Club 1033 Pinellas Place 352.205.7455 $$ Cane Garden Country Club 1726 Bailey Trail 352.750.0627 $$

.com

Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill 297 Colony Blvd 352.751.0400 $$ Hemingway’s at Havana 2484 Odell Circle 352.753.1475 $$$ Las Tapas Brownwood Paddock Square 352.399.5516 $$ The Legacy Restaurant at the Nancy Lopez Country Club 17135 Buena Vista Blvd. 352.753.1475 $$$ The Lighthouse Point Bar and Grille 925 Lakeshore Dr. 352.753.7800 $$ Mezza Luna Italian Restaurant and Bar 320 Colony Blvd. 352.753.3824 $$

Square One Burgers & Bar 2542 Burnsed Blvd. 352.689.2191 $$ Takis Greek and Italian Restaurant 13761 U.S. Hwy. 441 N. 352.430.3630 $$ TooJay’s 1129 Canal St. 352.430.0410 $ VKI Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar 1004 Old Mill Run 352.259.9887 $$

Wildwood Aztec’s Mexican Restaurant 348 Shopping Center Dr. 352.748.2250 $ Beef O’ Bradys 840 S. Main St. 352.689.0048 $ Buddy’s BBQ 1210 N. Main St. 352.330.0338 $$

Yalaha Yalaha Bakery 8210 County Road 48 352.324.3366 $$

Beer, Wine or Cocktails

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EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

1884 RESTAURANT AND BAR

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: 11A.M.–12A.M. // LUNCH, DINNER, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 12 EAST MAGNOLIA AVENUE, EUSTIS // 1.800.856.1884 // WWW.1884RESTAURANTANDBAR.COM Located in the historic Ferran’s building in downtown Eustis, 1884 Restaurant and Bar is a must for all to discover. The restaurant, which is open from 11am to Midnight 7 days a week, has everything from Boar’s Head wraps and pressed sandwiches at lunch to hand-cut ﬁlets and the signature double-bone, two-inch thick pork chop at dinner. Sushi Bar 7 days a week, lunch and dinner! With more than 10,000 square feet, 1884 can accommodate an intimate dinner for two to a private event in one of the 3 semi private rooms. Diners can also enjoy the full-service bar while ordering custom craft cocktails and eight rotating beers on tap. “Wine Down Wednesday” features $4 house wines. By using the most local and fresh ingredients, the chefs and bartenders will amaze you with their talent. Dinner and daily specials begining at 5 pm with happy hour from 4:30 - 6:30. No doubt, there’s something for everyone at 1884. This restaurant has won in 6 categories for the 2016 Lake and Sumter Style’s Hot list: Best Server - Shelly Jaggers, Best Bartender - Chelsea Harkness, Best Cocktail, Best Dessert, Best Karaoke, and Best Girls Night Out. They were also named as Open Table’s Restaurant of the Month. Call 1.800.856.1884 to reserve your table or book your party now. Join the email list at www.1884restaurantandbar.com to be the ﬁrst to know of all specials, entertainers and events.

BUSTER TUBBS

110 N. NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE., TAVARES 352.742.7676 // WWW.BUSTERTUBBS.COM Voted the “Best Sports Bar” in the “2016 Hot List” of Lake and Sumter Style magazine’s August issue, Buster Tubbs is the “neighborhood watering hole” in Tavares with comfort foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a great happy hour. It’s the go-to place to watch football, or enjoy karaoke Wednesday nights with Rudy and Belva on the new stage, music trivia Thursday nights, and live music on Friday nights. Buster Tubbs also has been generating raves from regulars for our delicious bayou barbecue, specialty coffees, Hazelnut Lattes, Peanut Butter Pie, amazing crab cakes, Buster Blue burger, Seaplane Fish, fried green tomatoes and so much more. Fans also rave about the atmosphere and friendly service. Come check out Buster Tubbs!

HOURS OF OPERATION OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK AT 7A.M. SAT-TUE: OPEN UNTIL 3P.M. WED-FRI: OPEN UNTIL THE MUSIC STOPS

COUSIN VINNIE’S FAMILY SPORTS RESTAURANT OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK: 11A.M.–9P.M. // FOOD, SPIRITS, MUSIC, SPORTS 10700 U.S. HWY. 441, LEESBURG // 352.253.2442 // WWW.CVINNIES.COM

Cousin Vinnie’s is located on U.S. Hwy. 441 across from Home Depot. Owner “Cousin” Vinnie Vittoria and his family have created a unique atmosphere by combining a sports bar with a family restaurant. As soon as you walk into Vinnie’s you will immediately notice why they are famous for outstanding comfort food and service! They also have been voted BEST WINGS in Lake County every year since opening in 2009. Additional menu items offered are killer ½ lb. burgers, personal pan pizzas, amazing ribeye cheese steaks, healthy wheat wraps, fresh homemade salads, chicken strips that totally melt in your mouth, 16 awesome appetizers and their signature deep fried Ice Cream and Snickers Bars! Every Monday is “Texas Hold’em” from 6–10p.m. Tuesday night is “Family Night” from 4–8p.m. when kids 12-and-under eat free. Wednesday night is “Trivia Night” when the fun starts at 6:30p.m. with prizes given to the top 3 teams. There is no better place on the weekends to see who hoists the trophy or takes home the checkered ﬂag. Cousin Vinnie’s also offers, free Wi-Fi, great music and an enthusiastic staff, ready to exceed your expectations. Vinnie’s has been open eight years, if you have never been there… it is absolutely time for you to check it out!

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EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

GREAT CHICAGO FIRE BREWERY & TAP ROOM 311 W. MAGNOLIA ST., LEESBURG 352.474.2739

It’s a fun, friendly place to hang with friends and to meet new ones. Our Chicago/Fireﬁghter themed Tap Room offers 6-8 of our own “session” beers featuring fresh Florida fruits and other local ingredients. Our beers are brewed on premise. We also offer (10) guest taps featuring beers from small craft breweries across the U.S. There is something for everyone. Our “Chicago” Style food menu features items like real Italian Beefs with Giardiniera peppers. Italian Sausage, the Maxwell Street Polish Sausage, Gyros, Pizza Puffs, Tamales and even the original Chicago Hot Dog “Run through the garden.” All your favorite footballs teams are playing on (6) TVs with the NFL Package. Enjoy our spacious outdoor seating area with live music many weekends. We are located Historic Downtown Leesburg which offers a great shopping experience with specialty shops, antique stores, and a host of unique food and drink establishments. Every third Thursday, we partner with Gator Harley in Leesburg for our Bike Night; Live music, beer and food specials, BBQ, prizes and more, right here at the brewery!

HOURS OF OPERATION:

MONDAY-THURSDAY 11 A.M.-10 P.M. FRIDAY-SATURDAY 11 A.M.-12 A.M. SUNDAY 12 P.M.-6 P.M. FIND US ONLINE:

JOIN US FOR BIKE NIGHT ON OCT. 20TH

Style Magazine, October 2016

Articles inside

OUTSTANDING STUDENT